Walter Kross

Walter Kross
Walter Kross
Born	October 3, 1942 (age 82); Bronx, New York
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1964–1998
Rank	General
Commands	Air Mobility Command; United States Transportation Command; 15th Air Force; 436th Military Airlift Wing
Battles / wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2); Air Force Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross (3)

General Walter Kross (born October 3, 1942)^[1] is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Transportation Command/Commander, Air Mobility Command from 1996 to 1998.

Kross was commissioned through Officer Training School in December 1964. His early career combined both fighter and airlift experience as he flew 157 F-4 combat missions, 100 over North Vietnam. He later transitioned to airlift, then senior executive and congressional pilot support. He was assigned to Headquarters United States Air Force for six years, part of that time in the Chief's Staff Group. He has served as commander of a C-5 wing, as director of operations and logistics for all defense transportation requirements in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and as director of operations for Air Force headquarters. Additionally, Kross was commander of the provisional force in charge of standing up Air Mobility Command, as well as its first vice commander. He was also commander of 15th Air Force, Travis Air Force Base, California, then director, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

Education

1964 Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, Niagara University, New York
1971 Distinguished graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
1974 Master's degree in government, Southern Illinois University
1975 Master's degree in public administration, Auburn University, Alabama
1975 Distinguished graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
1977 Air War College
1982 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
1985 Executive Development Program, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
1990 Senior Executive Seminar, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Assignments

December 1964 – July 1966, student, pilot training, Laredo Air Force Base, Texas
July 1966 – February 1967, F-4 pilot, 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
February 1967 – September 1967, F-4 pilot, 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron, George Air Force Base, California
September 1967 – September 1968, F-4C aircraft commander, 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam
September 1968 – March 1972, C-141 pilot, 76th Military Airlift Squadron, later, flight examiner, 437th Military Airlift Wing, Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina
March 1972 – August 1974, VC-135 and VC-137 special missions pilot, 98th Military Airlift Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
August 1974 – August 1975, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base
August 1975 – April 1979, air operations officer, tactical forces division, and later, assistant deputy director for Joint and Congressional Matters, directorate of plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
April 1979 – July 1981, member, chief of staff of the Air Force Staff Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
July 1981 – June 1982, student, National War College, and senior research fellow, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
June 1982 – March 1984, deputy commander for operations and later, vice commander, 89th Military Airlift Wing, Andrews Air Force Base
March 1984 – July 1987, vice commander, and later, commander, 436th Military Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware
July 1987 – October 1988, vice commander, Air Force Military Personnel Center, and deputy assistant deputy chief of staff, personnel for military personnel, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
October 1988 – May 1990, deputy chief of staff, plans and requirements, Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
May 1990 – July 1991, director of operations and logistics (J-3/J-4), Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
July 1991 – January 1992, director of operations, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
January 1992 – July 1992, commander, Air Mobility Command (Provisional), Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
July 1992 – June 1993, vice commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
June 1993 – July 1994, commander, 15th Air Force, Travis Air Force Base, California
July 1994 – July 1996, director, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
July 1996 – 1998, commander in chief, U.S. Transportation Command, and commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois

Flight information

Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 5,700
Aircraft flown: F-4, C-141, VC-135, VC-137, C-5, T-37, T-38, T-33, KC-135, C-140, C-21, C-9 and KC-10

Awards and decorations

	Air Force Command Pilot Badge
	United States Transportation Command Badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
	Legion of Merit
	Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters
	Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Air Medal with twelve oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device, one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (second ribbon to denote ninth award)
	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with three oak leaf clusters
	Combat Readiness Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Vietnam Service Medal with seven service stars
	Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Training Ribbon
	Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
	Vietnam Campaign Medal