General will stop in county Tuesday
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on January 5, 2007 1:55 PM
The nation's deputy chief of air and space operations in Washington, D.C., will make a stop in Wayne County Tuesday.
Lt. Gen. Carrol Chandler is the scheduled keynote speaker for a Military Affairs Committee luncheon to be held Monday at the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Officer's Club.
The three-star general is a highly decorated officer -- having been awarded the NATO Medal, Legion of Merit, Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze star and others.
As deputy chief, he is responsible for helping formulate policy supporting air, space, nuclear, counter-proliferation, homeland security, weather and information operations.
Chandler also is an experienced command pilot, with more than 3,900 combined hours in the cockpit of the T-38, F-16 and F-15E Strike Eagle.
In the 32 years since he graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy, the general has held dozens of positions.
In the early years of his career, Chandler was an instructor pilot and flight examiner. He quickly moved up the ladder, though, and became known as a great leader.
As a result of that reputation, he was named commander of fighter squadrons and both the 33rd and 56th fighter wings.
Then, after a brief stint as director of aerospace operations at Langley Air Force Base, he was named commander of the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region at Elmendorf.
Chandler's assignments also include tours at the U.S. Military Training Mission Headquarters in Saudi Arabia and Allied Air Forces Headquarters in Southern Europe.
He made brigadier general in February 1997, major general in February 2000 and his current rank, lieutenant general, in November 2002.