Commander-in-Chief,
United States Air Force
Strategic Air Command
Department of Defense
StyleCinC SAC
Inaugural holderGen. George C. Kenney
Formation21 March 1946
Final holderGen. Lee Butler
Abolished31 May 1992
SuccessionAir Combat Command
Strategic Command

The Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC) was the most senior officer and head of the Strategic Air Command (SAC).

List of SAC Commanders-in-Chief

Name Photo Term began Term ended Notes
1 Gen George Kenney 21 March 1946 15 October 1948 (1889–1977)
Designated as Commanding General
2 Gen Curtis LeMay 19 October 1948 30 June 1957 (1906–1993)
3 Gen Thomas S. Power 1 July 1957 30 November 1964 (1905–1970)
4 Gen John Dale Ryan 1 December 1964 31 January 1967 (1915–1983)
5 Gen Joseph J. Nazzaro 1 February 1967 31 July 1968 (1913–1990)
6 Gen Bruce K. Holloway 1 August 1968 30 April 1972 (1912–1999)
7 Gen John C. Meyer 1 May 1972 31 July 1974 (1919–1975)
8 Gen Russell E. Dougherty 1 August 1974 31 July 1977 (1920–2007)
9 Gen Richard H. Ellis 1 August 1977 31 July 1981 (1919–1989)
10 Gen Bennie L. Davis 1 August 1981 31 July 1985 (1928–2012)
11 Gen Larry D. Welch 1 August 1985 22 June 1986 (born 1934)
12 Gen John T. Chain, Jr. 22 June 1986 24 January 1991 (1934–2021)
13 Gen George Lee Butler 25 January 1991 1 June 1992 (born 1939)

[1]

Three out of the Thirteen Commanders-in-Chief of the Strategic Air Command later on served as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis LeMay, General John D. Ryan and General Larry D. Welch.

List of SAC Vice Commanders-in-Chief

Vice Commander-in-Chief, United States Air Force Strategic Air Command
Inaugural holderMaj Gen St. Clair Streett
Formation21 March 1946
Final holderLt Gen Leo W. Smith II
Abolished31 May 1992
SuccessionAir Combat Command
Name Term began Term ended Notes
1. Maj Gen St. Clair Streett 21 March 1946 9 January 1947 (1893–1970)
Designated as Deputy Commander
2. Maj Gen Clements McMullen 10 January 1947 25 October 1948 (1892–1959)[2]
Designated as Deputy Commander
3. Maj Gen Thomas S. Power 26 October 1948 14 April 1954 (1905–1970)
Designated as Deputy Commander (1948–52)
Vice Commander (1952–54)
4. Lt Gen Francis H. Griswold 3 May 1954 30 June 1961 (1904–1989)[3]
Designated as Vice Commander (1954–55)
5. Lt Gen John P. McConnell 1 July 1961 30 September 1962 (1908–1986)
6. Lt Gen Hunter Harris Jr. 1 October 1962 31 July 1964 (1909–1987)
7. Lt Gen John Dale Ryan 1 August 1964 30 November 1964 (1915–1983)
8. Lt Gen Joseph J. Nazzaro 1 December 1964 31 January 1967 (1913–1990)
9. Lt Gen Keith K. Compton 1 February 1967 31 July 1969 (1915–2004)[4]
10. Lt Gen Glen W. Martin 1 August 1969 30 September 1973 (1916–1994)[5][6]
11. Lt Gen James M. Keck 1 October 1974 30 June 1977 (1921–2018)
12. Lt Gen James E. Hill 1 August 1977 5 December 1977 (1921–1999)
13. Lt Gen Edgar S. Harris Jr. 6 December 1977 27 June 1978 (1925–2018)
13. Lt Gen Lloyd R. Leavitt Jr. 28 June 1978 31 August 1981 (1928–2016)[7]
13. Lt Gen George D. Miller 1 September 1981 31 August 1984 (born 1930)[8]
13. Lt Gen William J. Campbell 31 August 1984 26 July 1985 (1931–2017)[9]
13. Lt Gen Monroe W. Hatch Jr. 27 July 1985 29 January 1987 (born 1933)
13. Lt Gen Kenneth L. Peek Jr. 30 January 1987 9 September 1988 (born 1932)[10]
13. Lt Gen Donald O. Aldridge 9 September 1988 30 May 1991 (born 1932)[11]
13. Lt Gen Leo W. Smith II 1 June 1991 1 June 1992 (born 1936)[12]

[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ Command Historian's Office. Headquarters Strategic Air Command Key Personnel, 1946–1992 (Commanders-in-Chief). Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Biographies : Major General Clements Mcmullen". Af.mil. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Biographies : Lieutenant General Francis H. Griswold". Af.mil. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Biographies : Lieutenant General Keith Karl Compton". Af.mil. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Biographies : Lieutenant General Glen W. Martin". Af.mil. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  6. ^ http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/elpaso/cemeteries/academp.txt[bare URL plain text file]
  7. ^ "Biographies : Lieutenant General Lloyd R. Leavitt Jr". Af.mil. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  8. ^ "Biographies : Lieutenant General George D. Miller". Af.mil. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Biographies : Lieutenant General William J. Campbell". Af.mil. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Biographies : Lieutenant General Kenneth L. Peek Jr". Af.mil. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  11. ^ "Biographies : Lieutenant General Donald O. Aldridge". Af.mil. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Biographies : Lieutenant General Leo W. Smith II". Af.mil. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  13. ^ Command Historian's Office. Headquarters Strategic Air Command Key Personnel, 1946–1992 (Vice Commanders-in-Chief). Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
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