Major General Stanley Gorenc (born 1954) is a retired United States Air Force major general who last served as the Air Force Chief of Safety, Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington, D.C., and Commander, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. He developed, executed and evaluated all Air Force aviation, ground, weapons, space and system mishap prevention, and nuclear surety programs to preserve combat readiness. Additionally, he was responsible for conducting research to promote safety awareness and mishap prevention, oversaw mishap investigations, evaluated corrective actions, and ensured implementation. Finally, he managed, developed, and directed all Air Force safety and operational risk management education courses.
Early life
Gorenc was born in Brezovica, Yugoslavia, present day Slovenia. Stanley and his younger brother, Frank immigrated with their parents to the United States from the former Yugoslavia in 1962 when they were 8 and 4. After arriving in America, their father worked as a tailor and their mother served as a factory machine operator.
Military career
Gorenc earned his commission in 1975 as a graduate from the United States Air Force Academy. He has commanded a flying training squadron, fighter operations group and three wings: a training wing responsible for the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program, a reconnaissance wing responsible for the Air Force's entire high-altitude reconnaissance fleet, and, for several months, the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing responsible for conducting combat operations in Southwest Asia. He also commanded United States Air Forces Europe for six months.
Gorenc has served in various operational and staff assignments, including a tour as an exchange officer with the Royal Air Force. Prior to his last assignment, he served as Director, Operational Capability Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air, Space and Information Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters United States Air Force.
Gorenc retired on July 1, 2007.
Education
1975 Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado 1979 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama 1985 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar 1986 Royal Air Force Staff College, Royal Air Force Bracknell, England 1988 Master's degree in aeronautical science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Florida 1993 Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 2002 Black Sea Security Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 2004 Combined Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
Publications
"Dynamic Commitment: Wargaming Projected Forces Against the QDR Defense Strategy," Strategic Forum, National Defense University Press, 1997