Larry O. Spencer

Larry Oneil Spencer (born 1 August 1954) is a retired United States Air Force general who served in many command, comptroller, and leadership roles during the course of his career. Some of his leadership roles included being the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, commander of the 75th Air Base Wing at Hill AFB, commander of the 72nd Support Group at Tinker AFB, and the commander of the 4th Comptroller Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB. He retired 1 October 2015 after more than 44 years of service. He received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit.

Personal life Spencer was born in Washington, D.C., on 1 August 1954. He later moved with his family to Seat Pleasant in Prince George's County, Maryland, a suburb just outside Washington. Spencer attended Central High School in Prince George's County, where he participated in academic and varsity sports programs that helped him develop leadership and personal discipline.

Spencer is married to Ora Mae Spencer. Together they have three children; Larry O'neil Spencer II (married to Reem Spencer), Derrick Lajuane Spencer (married to Gina Spencer), and Shannon Christine Spencer-Watson (married to Michael Watson). During his tour as deputy assistant secretary for budget, Spencer received the Eugene M. Zuckert Management Award. The award cited his leadership in developing the President's 2008 budget and his work to secure the 2007 and 2008 supplemental appropriations needed to fund war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. During this period, Spencer also served on the Army and Air Force Exchange Service board of directors and the Air Force Aid Society board of directors.

Spencer was promoted to lieutenant general in April 2010, prior to moving to the Pentagon's Joint Staff as director of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment (also known as "J8"). In this position, he was responsible for overseeing the developing defense weapon systems, conducting studies and analysis of military force structure and requirements, and evaluating military programs and resourcing strategies for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Spencer also served as chairman of the Joint Capabilities Board and secretary for the Joint Requirements Oversight Council.

On 11 May 2012, the President nominated Spencer for promotion to general and recommended him for appointment as Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination and appointment as Vice Chief on 24 May 2012. He was officially promoted to four-star general 27 July 2012, the same day he assumed the duties of Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. As Vice Chief of Staff, Spencer directed the Air Staff and was the Air Force's representative on the Joint Requirements Oversight Council and several other joint service boards. He also assisted the Chief of Staff of the Air Force with the organizing, training, and equipping of the 690,000 active-duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and civilian personnel who make up the United States Air Force. Under his leadership, the Air Force Association set records for membership growth and revenue generation.

In 2019, Spencer left the Air Force Association. The following year, he became president of the Armed Forces Benefit Association and 5Star Life Insurance Company. Spencer has been a member of the Whirlpool Corporation board of director since 2016, and as of 2021, he is also a member of the board of directors for Triumph Group and Haynes International. In addition, he is a distinguished senior fellow of University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government and a member of the Defense Business Board, a group that provides the Secretary of Defense with independent private sector advice on business management related issues.

Legacy There are two Air Force awards named in Spencer's honor. In June 2015, the Air Force created an award to recognize innovation and efficiency within the Service, naming it in honor of Spencer. The General Larry O. Spencer Innovation Award is an outgrowth of two programs Spencer created as Vice Chief of Staff, The Make Every Dollar Count and Airmen Powered by Innovation programs encouraged airmen bring new ideas into Air Force operations, helping to create a culture of innovation throughout the Air Force. The Air Force also presents, the General Larry Spencer Special Acts and Services Award.

Spencer is the author of two books. His first book is titled The Green Eyeshades of War. Published in 2016, it is a history of military financial management during war time.

The following four sections are from this Public Domain source.

Education 1979 Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering technology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 1980 Officer Training School (distinguished graduate), Lackland Air Force Base, Texas 1983 Squadron Officer School (distinguished graduate), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama 1987 Master of Science in business management, Webster College, St. Louis, Missouri 1990 Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Virginia 1994 Master of Science in resource strategy (distinguished graduate), Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 2005 Logistics Technology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 2005 Black Sea Region Seminar, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 2007 Systems Acquisition Management Course, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Virginia 2011 Pinnacle, Joint, Coalition and Interagency Studies program, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

Assignments February 1980 – July 1982, Chief, Cost Analysis Branch, Headquarters Air Force Reserve, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia July 1982 – August 1986, cost and budget officer, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. August 1986 – July 1989, budget officer and executive officer, Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois July 1989 – June 1990, student, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Virginia June 1990 – August 1993, commander, 4th Comptroller Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina August 1993 – June 1994, student and research fellow, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. June 1994 – August 1996, assistant chief of staff, White House Military Office, Washington, D.C. August 1996 – January 1998, commander, 72nd Support Group, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma February 1998 – July 1999, commander, 75th Air Base Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah September 1999 – June 2003, command comptroller, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia June 2003 – August 2005, director of mission support, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio August 2005 – August 2006, vice director, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma August 2006 – October 2007, director of budget operations and personnel, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. October 2007 – March 2010, deputy assistant secretary for budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. April 2010 – July 2012, director of force structure, resources and assessments, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. July 2012 – August 2015, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Awards and decorations Spencer's awards and decorations include:

Effective dates of promotion

General Spencer served as a non-commissioned officer for around nine years before receiving his commission in 1980.