John B. Conaway

Infobox Military Person
name=John B. Conaway
born=
died=
placeofbirth=
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caption=Lieutenant General John B. Conaway
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Air Force
serviceyears=1956-1993
rank= Lieutenant General
commands=Chief, National Guard Bureau
unit=
battles=
awards=Legion of Merit Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
relations=
laterwork=
Lieutenant General John B. Conaway is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who served as the Chief of the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C. from 1990 to 1993.

Biography

Education

After graduating from Bosse High School in Evansville, Indiana in 1952, he attended the University of Evansville and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1956. While attending, he joined Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He continued graduate work at the University of Louisville School of Business and the University of Kentucky School of Business. In 1975, he earned a master's degree in management and human relations from Webster College. General Conaway completed U.S. Air Force Commanders Safety School in 1969, Air Command and Staff College in 1971, Air University Commanders School in 1972 and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1973.

In 1986, Conaway received an honorary doctor of laws degree from his alma mater, the University of Evansville. The general was elected to the board of trustees of the University of Evansville in 1988.

Military career

While attending the University of Evansville, General Conaway entered the Reserve Officer Training Corps program and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in June 1956. In 1957, after completing basic pilot training at Greenville Air Force Base, Mississippi, he attended advanced combat crew training at Perrin Air Force Base, Texas, graduating in 1958. His next assignments were as an F-102 fighter-interceptor pilot in the Air Defense Command at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base and Kincheloe Air Force Base, Michigan.

In 1960, Conaway joined the West Virginia Air National Guard as an SA-16 pilot, flying a special forces operations mission. In 1963, he transferred to the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Louisville, as an RB-57 pilot and, in 1965, became an air technician flying training instructor in operations, flying RF-101s.

He was called to active duty with the Kentucky Air National Guard in January 1968 and served in Alaska, Panama, Japan and Korea. Upon its deactivation in June 1969, he returned to the Kentucky Air National Guard as operations officer.

In October 1972, Conaway was appointed air commander of the Kentucky Air National Guard. In December 1974, he was appointed vice commander of the 123rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, which had units in Kentucky, Arkansas, Nevada and Idaho. Other assignments Included duty as wing director of operations, wing chief of safety, wing chief of standardization and evaluation, group commander, group deputy commander for operations, and squadron operations officer.Conaway was recalled to active duty as deputy director of the Air National Guard in April 1977 and in April 1981, became director. He was reappointed director in April 1985, and then became vice chief in July 1988. He was appointed as Chief of the National Guard Bureau in February 1990.

He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general on March 1, 1990. He retired on November 30, 1993.

Awards and decorations

LtGen Conaway is a command pilot with more than 6,500 flying hours In the C-21, C-22, C47, C-54, C-130 Hercules, C-131, SA-16, F-15, F-16, F-86, F-102, KC-135, RB-57, RF-4C, RF-101, T-28, T-29, T-33, T-34, T-39 and T-43 aircraft. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal] , Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award Ribbon, Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Recognition Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal with service star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four oak leaf clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two hourglass devices, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon and Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal. He is also the recipient of the Air Force's Eugene M. Zuckert Management Award, Air Force Association's Citation of Honor, Selective Service System Exceptional Service Award and the Air National Guard's Order of the Sword.

References

:USGovernment|sourceURL= [http://www.ngb.army.mil/ngbgomo/history/bio/conaway_jb.htm]