John William Handy (born 29 April 1944)U.S. Dept of Defense News Release is a retired United States Air Force officer. Serving from 1967 to 2005, he reached the rank of general and held a number of high-ranking commands.
Handy was commissioned in 1967, and received his pilot wings in 1968. His early commands included the 21st Air Force at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey; the Air Mobility Command's Tanker Airlift Control Center; two airlift wings; and a maintenance squadron. He then served as director of operations and logistics for the United States Transportation Command; director of programs and evaluations; and deputy chief of staff for installations and logistics with the Air Staff in Washington, D.C. His final two postings were as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, from 2000 to 2001, and Commander of the United States Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command, from October 2001 until September 2005.
Handy is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, principally in airlift aircraft. As a C-130 Hercules pilot, he logged more than 300 combat hours in Southeast Asia.
Education 1966 Bachelor of Arts degree in history, Methodist College, Fayetteville, North Carolina 1972 Squadron Officer School 1979 Air Command and Staff College 1979 Master's degree in systems management, University of Southern California 1982 Air War College 1984 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 1993 Program for Senior Executives, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Flight information Rating: Command pilot Flight hours: More than 5,000 Aircraft flown: C-130 Hercules, C-141, C-17, C-7A, C-9, C-37 and KC-10
Awards and decorations Air Force Command Pilot BadgeJoint Chiefs of Staff BadgeUnited States Transportation Command Badge Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf clusterAir Force Distinguished Service MedalLegion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf clusterMeritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clustersAir MedalJoint Meritorious Unit AwardAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clustersAir Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clustersCombat Readiness MedalNational Defense Service Medal with two bronze service starsAntarctica Service MedalArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalVietnam Service Medal with three bronze service starsSouthwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service starsAir Force Overseas Short Tour Service RibbonAir Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with oak leaf clusterAir Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clustersSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship RibbonAir Force Training RibbonPhilippine Presidential Unit CitationVietnam Gallantry Cross Unit AwardVietnam Campaign MedalKuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) 2005 Air Force Order of the Sword.
Other achievements 1992 Honorary doctor of humanities, Methodist College
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