T. Michael Moseley

Infobox Military Person
name=T. Michael Moseley (Retired August 1, 2008)
born= birth year and age|1949
died=


caption=General T. Michael Moseley
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch=air force|USA
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=
branch=air force|USA
serviceyears=1971-2008
rank= General
unit=
commands=F-15 Division, U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School 33rd Operations Group 57th Wing 9th Air Force U.S. Central Command Air Forces Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|battles=
awards=Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) Meritorious Service Medal (4) Air Medal Joint Service Commendation Medal Air Force Commendation Medal Air Force Achievement Medal
relations=
laterwork=
General Teed Michael Moseley, USAF, KBE, [ [http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123021001 General Moseley knighted for contributions to international relations] Accessed May 31 2006] was the 18th US Air Force Chief of Staff. He assumed the position during a ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base on September 2, 2005. On 5 June 2008 Moseley was given an option by the Department of Defense of either resigning or being fired. It was reported that Moseley chose to resign from the United States Air Force due to his service's performance concerning Nuclear Weapons at Minot, AFB in North Dakota and various scandals. (See 2007 United States Air Force nuclear weapons incident)

As Chief, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipage of more than 700,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the general and other service chiefs function as military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council, and the President. On July 11 2008, General Moseley had his formal retirement ceremony at Bolling AFB in Washington DC. Former Secretary of the Air Force the Honorable Michael Wynne presided over the ceremony. He officially retired from the Air Force on August 1 2008.

Background

A native of Grand Prairie, Texas, General Teed Michael Moseley graduated from Texas A&M University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He earned a Master of Arts degree from Texas A&M University in 1972, also in political science. He has commanded the F-15 Division of the Air Force Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nevada, the 33rd Operations Group at Eglin AFB, Florida, and the 57th Wing, the Air Force's largest, most diverse flying wing, also at Nellis. The general has served as the combat Director of Operations for Joint Task Force-Southwest Asia. General Moseley also commanded 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces while serving as Combined Forces Air Component Commander for Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The general is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has been awarded the Order of National Merit (Officer) and the Order of National Merit (Commander) by the president of the French Republic. The Order of National Merit is the second highest French military award. He has also been awarded the United Arab Emirates' Military Medal, 1st Class, by the president of the U.A.E.

General Moseley's staff assignments have been a mix of operational, joint and personnel duties. These include serving in Washington, D.C., as Director for Legislative Liaison for the Secretary of the Air Force; Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs for Asia/Pacific and Middle East, the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Chief of the Air Force General Officer Matters Office; Chief of Staff of the Air Force Chair and Professor of Joint and Combined Warfare at the National War College; and Chief of the Tactical Fighter Branch, Tactical Forces Division, Directorate of Plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.

General Moseley has personally "adopted" the United States Air Force Academy Class of 2009 as his own, and has gone out of his way to address the future leaders of the US Air Force. On March 8, 2007, the Grand Prairie ISD school board unanimously voted to name an elementary school opening in the 2007-2008 school year Mike Moseley Elementary School in honor of his achievements and as a native of Grand Prairie.

General Moseley resigned as Air Force Chief of Staff on 5 June 2008 in the wake of a report that criticized the service's handling of nuclear weapons security related to the 2007 United States Air Force nuclear weapons incident and a misshipment of nuclear missile components to Taiwan. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2008-06-05-airforce-staff_N.htm Nuclear mishaps lead to Air Force resignations - USATODAY.com ] ] [ [http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123101575 General Mosely's Resignation Letter] ] Following his resignation, General Moseley continued to serve as Chief of Staff of the Air Force until his official retirement ceremony at Bolling AFB, Washington, DC on 11 July 2008. [ [http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123106344 Chief of staff retires after 37 years ] ]

Thunderbirds "Thundervision" Scandal

Members of the United States Air Force were under investigation by the FBI for having awarded a $50 million contract for audio-visual presentation services to Strategic Message Solutions of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/05/19/national/w141413D78.DTL FBI Investigating $50M Air Force Contract] ] [ [http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/mrs_panstreppon/2006/jun/15/while_the_troops_are_getting_their_heads_blown_off_in_iraq While troops get their heads blown off in Iraq...] ] The contract involved the "Thundervision" project, meant to provide oversized video screens and perhaps content services during air shows that featured the Air Force Thunderbirds. The investigation revolves around possible involvement of former Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. (ret.) John Jumper, and Chief of Staff of the Air Force T. Michael Moseley. It is suggested that the contract price was inflated, because a friend of the two generals, Air Force General (ret.) Hal Hornburg, was associated with Strategic Message Solutions. Two companies involved in the bidding process protested award of the contract in January 2006, one having offered comparable services for half as much. The Air Force cancelled the contract in February 2006. [ [http://www.af.mil/pressreleases/release.asp?storyID=123016466 Air Force terminates contract] ]

Education

*1971 Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, Texas A&M University, College Station
*1972 Master of Arts degree in political science, Texas A&M University, College Station
*1977 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
*1981 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada
*1984 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
*1988 U.S. Air Force Joint Senior Battle Commander's Course, Hurlburt Field, Florida
*1990 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
*2000 Combined Forces Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and Hurlburt Field, Florida

Assignments

# June 1972 - May 1973, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Webb AFB, Texas
# May 1973 - July 1977, T-37 instructor pilot and spin flight test pilot; flight check pilot, and standardization and evaluation flight examiner, 3389th Flying Training Squadron, 78th Flying Training Wing, Webb AFB, Texas
# July 1977 - September 1979, F-15 instructor pilot, flight lead and mission commander, 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
# September 1979 - August 1983, F-15 weapons and tactics officer, instructor pilot, and flight lead and mission commander; standardization and evaluation/ flight examiner, 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron and 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
# August 1983 - June 1984, course officer, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
# June 1984 - June 1987, Chief, Tactical Fighter Branch, Tactical Forces Division, Directorate of Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
# June 1987 - June 1989, Commander, F-15 Division, and instructor pilot, Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada
# June 1989 - June 1990, course officer, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
# June 1990 - August 1992, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Chair and Professor of Joint and Combined Warfare, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
# August 1992 - January 1994, Commander, 33rd Operations Group, Eglin AFB, Florida
# January 1994 - May 1996, Chief, Air Force General Officer Matters Office, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
# May 1996 - November 1997, Commander, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nevada
# November 1997 - July 1999, Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs, Asia/Pacific and Middle East, Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.
# July 1999 - October 2001, Director, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
# November 2001 - August 2003, Commander, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces, Shaw AFB, South Carolina
# August 2003 - August 2005, Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
# September 2005 - July 2008, Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. [Chief of Staff United States Air Force Resigns

Washington, DC - Recent events have highlighted a loss of focus on certain critical matters within the Air Force. As the Air Force's senior uniformed leader, I take full responsibility for events which have hurt the Air Force's reputation or raised a question of every Airman's commitment to our core values. For the past 36 years I have been privileged to serve my country as an Airman in the United States Air Force in peacetime and combat. I was honored and humbled to be appointed the Air Force's 18th Chief of Staff and have been proud to serve our Airmen and their families. Upon taking office, I worked hard with Secretary Wynne to ensure the Air Force provided the right forces at the right time to help our Nation and allies win the Global War on Terror.

I think the honorable thing to do is to step aside. After consulting with my family, I intend to submit my request for retirement to Secretary Gates. The Air Force is bigger than one Airman, and I have full confidence that the Air Force will continue working with the Joint team to win today's fight, take care of its Airmen, and meet tomorrow's challenges. I love the Air Force and remain proud of America's Airmen.

T. Michael MoseleyChief of StaffUnited States Air Force]

Flight Information

Rating: Command pilot Flight hours: More than 2,800 Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38 and F-15A/B/C/D

Major Awards and Decorations

Foreign decorations

*Santos-Dumont Medal of Merit (Medalha do Mérito Santos Dumont), Brazilian Air Force [ [http://www.fab.mil.br/HTM/medalha.htm :: Força Aérea Brasileira :: ] ]
*Commander of the National Order of Merit, Republic of France
*Officer of the National Order of Merit, Republic of France
*Military Merit Order First Class, United Arab Emirates
*Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [ [http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123021001 General Moseley knighted for contributions to international relations ] ]

Effective Dates of Promotion

*Second Lieutenant July 9, 1971
*First Lieutenant July 9, 1974
*Captain January 9, 1976
*Major October 1, 1983
*Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 1986
*Colonel April 1, 1991
*Brigadier General December 1, 1996
*Major General February 1, 2000
*Lieutenant General November 7, 2001
*General October 1, 2003

References

[http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6545 Official USAF Bio]