Michael A. Nelson

Michael A. Nelson (October 8, 1937 – October 8, 2024) was a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force (USAF). He flew 100 missions over North Vietnam, collected 3500+ hours in fighter aircraft, and held command five times, including over the 9th Air Force and Operation Southern Watch. ).

Early life and education Nelson was born in East Los Angeles, California, on October 8, 1937. He moved to San Antonio, Texas, and graduated from Alamo Heights Senior High School in 1955. He was one of the Wild Weasels, which meant his aircraft was fitted with anti-radiation missiles and tasked with suppression of enemy air defenses. He also collected over 3500+ hours in the various aircraft he flew: the F-100, F-105, A-7, F-4, F-15, and F-16.

He held command five times at five different locations across his career and worked in the Pentagon multiple times, including as the Deputy Chief of Staff of Plans and Operations.

As part of being the commander of the 9th Air Force and CENTAF, he also oversaw Operation Southern Watch. Operation Southern Watch monitored southern Iraq.

He retired in August 1994. In retirement, he became the president of The Retired Officers Association (TROA) and served from 1995 to 2002. He worked with Congress to increase active duty pay raises, repeal dual-compensation restrictions and the REDUX retirement system, and enact TRICARE Senior Pharmacy and TRICARE For Life. As well as change the name of TROA to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Nelson helped redesign The Retired Officer Magazine, launch its website, begin hosting career fairs, and formed the Member Service Center.

Nelson died in Virginia on October 8, 2024, at the age of 87. time title assignment station location June 1959 – September 1960 pilot training student

Laredo, Texas September 1960 – September 1961 F-100 student

Maricopa County, Arizona September 1961 – August 1965 F-100 pilot 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing RAF Lakenheath Lakenheath, England August 1965 – July 1967 F-100 instructor pilot 4515th Combat Crew Training Squadron Luke AFB Maricopa County, Arizona

member, Anti-Surface-to-Air Missile Combat Assistance Team Tactical Air Warfare Center

F-105 pilot 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing July 1968 – October 1969 Master's degree student

Tucson, Arizona October 1969 – June 1971 Operations Plan Adviser

Seoul, South Korea June 1971 – May 1972 student Air Command and Staff College Maxwell AFB Montgomery, Alabama

A-7 instructor pilot

Chief of Wing Scheduling Operations Officer

Commander June 1975 – August 1976 Student National War College Fort Lesley J. McNair Washington, DC

Chief of Europe-NATO division, Directorate of Plans

Air Force planner, Deputy Directorate for Joint and National Security Matters April 1979 – March 1981 Commander 21st Tactical Fighter Wing Elmendorf AFB Anchorage, Alaska March 1981 – June 1983 Director of Operations Headquarters, US Pacific Command Camp HM Smith Oahu, Hawaii June 1983 – July 1984 Commander 313th Air Division Kadena Air Base Okinawa, Japan July 1984 – June 1985 Commander 13th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces Clark Air Base Luzon, Philippines June 1985 – June 1986 Deputy, Inspector General US Air Force Headquarters Pentagon Arlington, Virginia June 1986 – July 1987 Chief of Staff US Air Forces in Europe Ramstein AB Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany July 1987 – June 1989 Assistant, Chief of Staff for Operations

Mons, Belgium June 1989 – January 1991 Commander Sheppard Technical Training Center Sheppard AFB Wichita Falls, Texas January 1991 – June 1992 Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations US Air Force Headquarters Pentagon Arlington, Virginia

9th Air Force

Operation Southern Watch US Central Air Forces (CENTAF)