Merrill McPeak

Merrill A. McPeak

McPeak in 1990
Nickname(s) "Tony"
Born (1936-01-09) January 9, 1936
Santa Rosa, California, U.S.
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Air Force
Years of service 1957–1994
Rank General
Commands held Acting Secretary of the Air Force
Chief of Staff of the Air Force
12th Air Force
Pacific Air Forces
20th Tactical Fighter Wing
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Silver Star
Legion of Merit (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
Air Medal (13 olc)
Other work Chairman of Tektronix
Chairman of EthicsPoint

Merrill Anthony "Tony" McPeak (born January 9, 1936) is a retired 4 star General in the United States Air Force whose final assignment before retirement was as the 14th Chief of Staff of the Air Force from 1990 to 1994.

For a while in 1993, McPeak served as Acting Secretary of the Air Force, before Sheila E. Widnall was appointed by President Bill Clinton to that office, and is to this date the only Chief of Staff of the Air Force and uniformed Air Force Officer on active duty to have ever served as the Acting Secretary.

Early life and education

McPeak was born in Santa Rosa, California.[1] After graduating from Grants Pass High School in Grants Pass, Oregon, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from San Diego State College in 1957[2] and became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He was commissioned through Air Force ROTC, and entered active duty in November of that year. He later earned a Master of Arts degree in international relations from George Washington University in 1974.

Career

McPeak in 1993, wearing the redesigned Air Force Service Dress Uniform that was used from 1993 to 1994.

After completing preflight and pilot training, McPeak flew fighter F-100 Super Sabre and F-104 Starfighter aircraft in operational squadrons in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Later he returned to the U.S. as an instructor pilot and weapons officer at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.[2]

From December 1966 to December 1968, McPeak was assigned as a solo and lead solo pilot with the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's aerobatic flying team. While with the Thunderbirds he performed in nearly 200 air shows in the U.S. and overseas.[2]

Upon completion of his tour with the Thunderbirds, he was assigned as an F-100 pilot with the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing at Phù Cát Air Base in South Vietnam. On February 1, 1969, he was assigned to Project Commando Sabre (Detachment 1, 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron), known as the Misty FACs, a specialized group of high speed forward air controllers trying to stop traffic down the Ho Chi Minh Trail. He became the tenth commander of Commando Sabre on April 22, 1969, and moved it to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base on May 1, when the 37th TFW transitioned to the F-4 Phantom II. Rotating out of his command on May 31, 1969 after 98 missions, he served as chief of standardization and evaluation for 31st TFW. McPeak completed a total of 269 combat missions while in Vietnam, was awarded the Silver Star, and remained in-country until 1970, after which he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia.[2]

From 1970 to 1973, McPeak was an air operations staff officer for the Mideast Division at Headquarters USAF in Washington. After graduating from the National War College in 1974, he was named assistant deputy commander for operations for the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida flying the F-4 Phantom II. From 1975 to 1976, he was a military fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City.

In 1976, McPeak contributed an article to Foreign Affairs Journal expressing his views on the Israelis' occupation of territories during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.[3]

In July 1976, he became commander of the 513th Combat Support Group based at RAF Station Mildenhall; a year later he moved to Zaragoza Air Base in Spain as vice commander of the 406th Tactical Fighter Training Wing. From 1978 to 1980, he was assistant chief of staff for current operations, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (in Boerfink, West Germany). 1980 and 1981 saw him flying the F-111E and commanding the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, based at RAF Station Upper Heyford, United Kingdom. McPeak was chief of staff at USAFE headquarters from 1981 to 1982, and deputy chief of staff for plans at TAC headquarters, Langley AFB, Virginia from 1982 to 1985. He returned to Headquarters USAF in 1985-87 as deputy chief of staff for programs and resources.

In June 1987, McPeak moved to Bergstrom AFB, Texas in the dual roles of Commander, 12th Air Force Commander of Air Forces for United States Southern Command. A year later he was named commander-in-chief of Pacific Air Forces PACAF. He was appointed Air Force Chief of Staff by President George H.W. Bush in October 1990, replacing the retiring General Michael Dugan.

McPeak took over as Chief of Staff during the run-up for Operation Desert Shield, and assisted in overall strategic planning for Operation Desert Storm. His tenure also saw major reduction in force (RIF) as a result of the end of the Cold War; during his time as Chief of Staff, he oversaw the disbandment of Strategic Air Command, Tactical Air Command, Military Airlift Command, Air Force Systems Command, Air Force Logistics Command, and Air Force Communications Command, with assets transferred primarily to Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, Air Force Materiel Command and the then-Air Force Communications Agency. Also, his tenure oversaw the merging of Air Training Command and Air University into Air Education and Training Command. McPeak pushed through major organizational change, aimed at streamlining and emphasizing operations and combat readiness. Much of his tenure focused on elevating the status of flight operations, some say at the expense of support, or non-flying career fields. He also created the Air Force Expeditionary Wing concept, a fusion of combat forces and support into a single organization. He also transferred several flying wing and space wing command billets to Brigadier Generals, even though previously these had been commanded by Colonels.[4]

However, McPeak is best remembered by many current and since-retired senior Air Force personnel for the sweeping changes he made to the Air Force's service dress uniform, especially for commissioned officers.[5] Worn by more personnel during most duties, the new version was a radical departure from the earlier version, which was essentially the same design as the then-U.S. Army service uniform (the U.S. Air Force was originally the U.S. Army Air Corps and then the U.S. Army Air Forces), but with fewer insignia. Because of the new uniform's resemblance to both officer's uniforms of the U.S. Navy and those of commercial airline pilots, the McPeak uniform was said to be unpopular with Air Force service members.[5] These uniform changes were subsequently reversed by his successor. The basic redesign continues to be worn to this day, but the navalized sleeve braid rank insignia for officers was eliminated and name tags reinstituted, albeit in silver metal versus the blue plastic nametags worn with the earlier uniform and still worn on service uniform shirts. McPeak's original concept of simplifying and toning down the various devices and insignia pinned to the uniform has gone by the wayside., with nearly all USAF personnel wearing at least one, if not two, three or more metal insignia with their dress uniforms.[6]

McPeak also acted as Secretary of the Air Force for three weeks in 1993, during an interim before the formal appointment and confirmation of Sheila E. Widnall, as of that date becoming the only person to have ever concurrently served in both capacities. McPeak continued as Chief of Staff through October 1994, retiring afterwards.

McPeak's legacy as Chief of Staff has been considered in several quarters as one of the most controversial in U.S. Air Force history and has been the subject of much debate. Many Air Force senior officers and senior enlisted personnel, both active and retired from the Regular Air Force, the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard, have accused him of trying to run the Air Force as a corporation, with his introduction of Total Quality Management (TQM) under the moniker of "Quality Air Force" (QAF), as well as the uniform changes he unilaterally implemented which strayed from a traditional land-based military style. Some of his uniform changes were soon undone after his retirement by his successor as USAF Chief of Staff.

Rightly or wrongly, McPeak was also often accused of ignoring the needs of enlisted personnel, non-flying officers, aeronautically-rated navigator officers, and looking out solely for his officers who were pilots, primarily single-seat fighter pilots. There was even debate over the somewhat traditional act of inducting him as the outgoing Chief of Staff into the Order of the Sword.[7][8][9][10]

Some of this controversy may also be traced, at least in part, to the abrupt manner in which General McPeak had replaced General Michael Dugan as Chief of Staff of the Air Force. General Dugan, a popular and well-intentioned officer, had sought to repair the Air Force's image, badly frayed by the service's withholding of embarrassing information about the performance of the F-117 Nighthawk during the invasion of Panama. Dugan had also sought to make top Air Force officials more accessible, but he was relieved of command by then-Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney shortly before the start of Operation Desert Storm and the first Gulf War following some intemperate remarks Dugan had made to the news media about targeting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein under United Nations Security Council Resolution 666 prior to the start of hostilities, this despite the fact that as Air Force Chief of Staff, Dugan had no command authority within the U.S. Central Command theater of operations.[11] In short order, Cheney quickly replaced Dugan with McPeak as Chief of Staff, although Dugan was retained as a 4-star special advisor by the Secretary of Defense until Dugan's retirement from the Air Force.[7]

Later work

Following his Air Force career, McPeak entered the private sector as a consultant and business executive. He has been on the boards of directors for TWA, ECC International, where he served for several years as Chairman, Tektronix, Sensis Corporation, GenCorps, and other corporations. McPeak and his wife Elynor currently reside in Lake Oswego, Oregon. She served as a member of the Lake Oswego City Council.[12]

In 1996, McPeak served as Oregon state chairman for the Bob Dole for President campaign. During the presidential election of 2000 McPeak endorsed George W. Bush and served as co-chairman of Oregon Veterans for Bush.[13]

As the military and foreign policy of the Bush administration coalesced, however, McPeak expressed strong objections, especially with regard to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[14] McPeak later openly campaigned for Howard Dean's nomination, and when Dean withdrew, acted as an adviser for the John Kerry campaign. He was also one of twenty-seven signatories to the statement of the "Committee of Diplomats & Commanders for Change" calling the Bush Administration a failure at "preserving national security" and calling for Bush not to be re-elected.

McPeak worked as a co-chair on Barack Obama's presidential campaign during the 2008 United States presidential election.[15]

McPeak was appointed in July 2010 to the American Battle Monuments Commission. He is the tenth Chairman (and the first airman) to lead the commission.[16]

In 1992, San Diego State University gave its first ever Lifetime Achievement Award to General McPeak. In 1995, George Washington University honored him with its Distinguished Alumni Award, the "George." In 2005, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Sigma Chi Fraternity, he was selected as one of 150 members of its Hall of Fame. He was among the initial seven inductees to the Oregon Aviation Hall of Honor.

In May 2012, McPeak published Hangar Flying, the first volume of The Aerial View Trilogy, three memoirs that will document his career in the Air Force. The book was followed by Volume 2, Below the Zone, in November 2013.

Israel

McPeak was harshly criticized by American Spectator journalist Robert Goldberg for comments and writings he has made regarding Israel.[17]

Goldberg begins the piece saying that "McPeak has a long history of criticizing Israel for not going back to the 1967 borders as part of any peace agreement with Arab states. In 1976 McPeak wrote an article for Foreign Affairs magazine questioning Israel's insistence on holding on to the Golan Heights and parts of the West Bank."[17]

Goldberg writes that "[in] recent years McPeak has echoed the Mearsheimer-Walt view that American Middle East policy is being controlled by Jews at the expense of America's interests in the region."[17] Goldberg then quotes McPeak responding to a question as to what is the cause for the lack of progressing in getting Israelis and Palestinians together: "New York City. Miami. We have a large vote -- vote, here in favor of Israel. And no politician wants to run against it."[17]

Goldberg also wrote that McPeak "claims that a combination of Jews and Christian Zionists are manipulating U.S. policy in Iraq in dangerous and radical ways."[17] To support this claim, Goldberg quotes McPeak from a published interview: "Let's say that one of your abiding concerns is the security of Israel as opposed to a purely American self-interest, then it would make sense to build a dozen or so bases in Iraq. Let's say you are a born-again Christian and you think that Armageddon and the rapture are about to happen any minute and what you want to do is retrace steps you think are laid out in Revelations, then it makes sense. So there are a number of scenarios here that could lead you in this direction. This is radical...."[17]

McPeak's response

More than 30 years ago, ... I wrote, and Foreign Affairs published, an article now being circulated in the blogosphere as evidence of an alleged anti-Israel point of view. Some commentators reach farther, suggesting that since I have been an active supporter of Barack Obama's presidential bid he, too, is anti-Israel. Both these assertions fall flat after any objective reading of the historical record.
I am a long-time admirer (and think myself a friend) of Israel. In the early 1970s, I played a key role in getting advanced weaponry released to the Israeli Air Force -- capabilities it later put to active use. During that period, I made many official visits to Israel and established close relationships there. These contacts turned out to be useful during Operation Desert Storm, when, as chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, I worked with my Israeli counterparts to help defend Israel from Iraqi Scud missile attacks.
I was a vocal opponent of the George W. Bush Administration's decision to invade Iraq, a strategic blunder made worse by slapdash execution. As we have seen, this star-crossed action took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan, breathed new life into a moribund al Qaeda, and enhanced Iranian influence in this critical region -- all outcomes which damaged both the United States and our ally Israel.
It is my view and hope that Israel will have our continued support. I wish it every success. Of course, what Israel regards as success is up to it to decide. But for friends like me, "success" means a secure Israel at peace with neighbors who recognize and respect its existence. Even so, we should maintain our special relationship and help Israel keep its qualitative military edge.
As for the article, much has changed in 32 years and much has not. The essential argument holds: no set of realistically achievable geographic borders produces safety for Israel. Rather, the security requirement is that any of the territory taken in the Six-Day War and given back as part of a peace settlement should be effectively demilitarized. Of course, the Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt long ago in exactly this way, resulting in relative quiet along Israel's southern border and creating a fundamental shift in the regional balance of forces. This opportunity was not skillfully exploited, so the result has been a "cold peace." But it is nevertheless peace and has served the interests of both sides.[18]

Former President Clinton

McPeak also generated controversy following comments he made at a Barack Obama campaign appearance in Medford, Oregon where he implied that former President Bill Clinton had appeared to question Obama's patriotism:

As one who for 37 years proudly wore the uniform of our country, I'm saddened to see a president employ these tactics, he of all people should know better because he was the target of exactly the same kind of tactics.[19]

McPeak also compared the former President's comments to actions by Senator Joe McCarthy: "I grew up, I was going to college when Joe McCarthy was accusing good Americans of being traitors, so I've had enough of it."[20]

East Timor

According to journalist Allan Nairn, General McPeak oversaw the delivery of advanced U.S. fighter planes to Suharto's government not long after the November 1991 shooting of pro-independence demonstrators known as the Dili massacre.[21]

Dates of Rank

Dates of Rank
Insignia Rank Date
GenAug. 1, 1988
Lt GenMay 22, 1985
Maj GenOct. 1, 1983
Brig GenJuly 1, 1981
ColApril 1, 1974
Lt ColNov. 1, 1972
MajMay 20, 1968
CaptOct. 1, 1962
1st LtMay 30, 1959
2nd LtJune 19, 1957

Awards and decorations

McPeak's military decorations include the:

Qualification badges include the Command Pilot Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.

References

  1. ↑ "Merrill A. McPeak - Veteran Tributes". Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "USAF Biography". Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  3. ↑ Israel:Borders and Security Archived March 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Article preview Foreign Affairs retrieved 2008-03-25
  4. ↑ In Remaking Air Force, Even Underwear Changed - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel
  5. 1 2 General Merrill A. McPeak Service Dress - USAF Uniform History
  6. ↑ Thompson, Mark (2008-06-12). "A Veep on a White Horse?". Time. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
  7. 1 2 In From the Cold: Shades of Tony McPeak
  8. ↑ Order of the Sword Ceremony | Air Force Enlisted Forums
  9. ↑ Military.com
  10. ↑ Tomorrow's Air Force: Tracing the Past, Shaping the Future; Smith, Jeffrey J.; Indiana University Press, Bloomington, IN; ISBN 978-0-253-01078-0; c2014; pp. 106-113
  11. ↑ Confrontation In The Gulf - Air Force Chief Is Dismissed For Remarks On Gulf Plan - Cheney Cites Bad Judgment - Nytimes.Com
  12. ↑ Lake Oswego Council Biographies Archived January 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ Pitkin, James (March 7, 2007). "Happy Birthday, War!". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2007-03-09. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
  14. ↑ Iraq after Saddam: Text of interview with Gen. Merrill A. "Tony" McPeak Archived March 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. The Oregonian 2003-03-27 retrieved 2008-03-25
  15. ↑ Associated Press, "McPeak’s McCarthyism comments draw fire", March 26, 2008
  16. ↑ "ABMC Commissioners". Archived from the original on October 15, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Goldberg, Robert McPeak on Display Archived April 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. American Spectator 2008-03-24 retrieved 2008-03-25
  18. ↑ How to Secure Israel Demilitarized land for peace is the key to a settlement Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Foreign Affairs Journal 2008-03-31 retrieved 2008-04-08
  19. ↑ Obama takes message to Southern Oregon The Statesman-Journal 2008-03-23 retrieved 2008-03-25
  20. ↑ Obama Aide: Clinton Like McCarthy Archived March 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Breitbart.com 2008-03-24 retrieved 2008-03-26
  21. ↑ Allan Nairn interviewed by Amy Goodman
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Military offices
Preceded by
Gen. John M. Loh (acting)		 Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
1990–1994 		Succeeded by
Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman
Preceded by
Michael B. Donley
(acting)		 United States Secretary of the Air Force
(acting)
July 14, 1993 – August 5, 1993 		Succeeded by
Sheila E. Widnall
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