General Larry D. Welch (born June 9, 1934) is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as the 12th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As Chief of Staff, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of a combined active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian force serving at locations in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he and the other service chiefs functioned as the principal military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Nuclear Weapon Surety Task Force for the Defense Science Board.
Early life and career
Welch was born in Guymon, Oklahoma, and graduated from Liberal (Kansas) High School in 1952. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master of Science degree in international relations from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Welch completed Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1967, and National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1972. Welch is an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.
Welch enlisted in the Kansas National Guard in October 1951, serving with the 161st Armored Field Artillery until he enlisted in the United States Air Force. In November 1953, he entered the aviation cadet program and received his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant. He served initially as a flight instructor until his assignment in July 1958, to Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.
Military career
Welch then served in tactical fighter units in Europe, the continental United States and Alaska before transferring to the Republic of Vietnam where he flew combat missions in F-4C Phantom IIs over North and South Vietnam, and Laos.
After completing the Armed Forces Staff College in July 1967, Welch was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., under the assistant chief of staff for studies and analysis. Upon graduation from the National War College in July 1972, he was assigned to Tactical Air Command, where he served in wing deputy commander for operations, vice commander and wing commander positions.
In August 1977, he transferred to Headquarters Tactical Air Command where he served as inspector general, deputy chief of staff for plans and deputy chief of staff for operations. In June 1981, he became commander of the Ninth Air Force and Air Force component commander for the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force. In November 1982, he was assigned as deputy chief of staff for programs and resources at Air Force headquarters and became Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force in July 1984.
Commander of Strategic Air Command
On August 1, 1985, General Welch was appointed as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Air Command, succeeding the retiring General Bennie L. Davis. From August 1985 to June 1986, Welch served as commander in chief, Strategic Air Command, and director, Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. In this capacity, Welch oversaw all of the United States Nuclear Triad operations, which included fleet of Strategic Bombers Aircraft and fleet of Ballistic Missile such as the Intercontinental-Ballistic missiles.
During Welch tenure as Commanders of the Strategic Air Command, Welch oversaw the transition of a new Air Force Strategic Bombers Aircraft, the B-1B Lancer which began its service within the United States Air Force on 1986. Welch himself also tested the B-1B aircraft by flying the aircraft himself for the test-flight. Welch also emphasize about the need to modernized United States Air Force fleet of Strategic Bombers Aircraft, such as the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress which has become the backbone of the United States Air Force Strategic Bombers Aircraft need to be modified with the new equipment so it would be able to serve within the United States Air Force for the next fifty years and also the need of a new advance stealth bombers aircraft. As a result, the Air Force began the new B-2 bomber project aircraft which gave birth to the new advance stealth Bomber Aircraft, the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit. President Reagan praised Welch for his achievement as Commander of The Strategic Air Command in shaping and modernizing the Strategic Air Command.