Ralph Edward Eberhart

General, U.S. Air Force

Ralph Edward Eberhart was born on 6 December 1946 in Nevada, MO. In 1964, he graduated from McCluer High School in Ferguson, MO.

Eberhart graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1968 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force.

His staff experience includes: Executive Officer to the Air Force Chief of Staff at Headquarters U.S. Air Force; Deputy Chief of Staff for Inspection, Safety and Security, Headquarters Tactical Air Command; Director for Programs and Evaluation, Headquarters U.S. Air Force; Director of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, the Joint Staff; and Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.

Eberhart commanded a flight, squadron, wing, numbered air force and two major commands, as well as one sub-unified command, two unified commands, and one bi-national command. While Commander of the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing during Operation Desert Shield, the unit established the Theater's initial air-to-ground combat capability from a forward operating location.

On 1 August 1997, Eberhart was promoted to the rank of four-star General and named Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF). In June 1999, he became Commander, Air Combat Command (COMACC).

In February 2000, he was assigned as Commander-in-Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command (CINCNORAD); Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Space Command (USCINCSPACE); Commander, Air Force Space Command (COMAFSPC); and Department of Defense Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations.

In April 2002, his assignment was as Commander-in-Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command (CINCNORAD); Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Space Command (USCINCSPACE); and Department of Defense Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations.

From October 2002 until 1 January 2005, his commands included Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (CDRNORAD) and Commander, U.S. Northern Command (CDRUSNORTHCOM). (U.S. Space Command was merged into USSTRATCOM and ceased to exist.)

General Eberhart retired from the Air Force on 1 January 2005. During his service, he became a Command Pilot and logged over 5,000 hours, primarily in fighter and trainer aircraft, including 300 combat missions as a Forward Air Controller in Vietnam. The aircraft flown included the O-2, T-38, T-39, F-4E, RF-4C, F-16, F-15, C-21 and C-37.

Education

1968 Bachelor of Science degree in political science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO

1973 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence

1974 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence

1977 Master's degree in political science, Troy State University

1987 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC

Assignments

• August 1968 - August 1969, student, undergraduate pilot training, 615th Student Squadron, Air Training Command, Craig AFB, AL.
• February 1970 - December 1970, forward air controller, 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam.
• December 1970 - June 1974, T-38 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Flight Commander, Flight Commander and Headquarters Squadron Commander, 71st Flying Training Wing, Vance AFB, OK.
• June 1974 - June 1975, Resource Manager, Air Staff Training Program, Special Category Management Section, Rated Career Management Branch, Headquarters Air Force Military Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, TX.
• December 1975 - February 1977, F-4E Flight Commander and Instructor Pilot, 525th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bitburg AB, West Germany.
• February 1977 - December 1978, F-4E Instructor Pilot, Standardization and Evaluation Flight Examiner, and Assistant Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hahn AB, West Germany.
• January 1979 - July 1980, Action Officer, Readiness Initiative Group, Directorate of Operations, later, Chief, Executive Committee, Air Force Budget Issues Team, Directorate of Plans, Congressional and External Affairs Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.
• July 1980 - June 1982, Aide to the Commander in Chief, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, Ramstein AB, West Germany.
• September 1982 - May 1984, Commander, 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron, later, Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations, 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hahn AB, West Germany.
• May 1984 - July 1986, Executive Officer to the Air Force Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.
• July 1986 - July 1987, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
• July 1987 - October 1990, Vice Commander, later, Commander, 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, SC.
• October 1990 - February 1991, Deputy Chief of Staff for Inspection, Safety and Security, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, VA.
• February 1991 - February 1994, Director, Directorate of Programs and Evaluation, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.
• February 1994 - June 1995, Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, the Joint Staff, Washington, DC.
• June 1995 - June 1996, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.
• June 1996 - June 1997, Commander, U.S. Forces, Japan, and Commander, 5th Air Force, Yokota AB, Japan.
• July 1997 - June 1999, Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.
• June 1999 - February 2000, Commander, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, VA.
• February 2000 - April 2002, Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Space Command; Commander, Air Force Space Command; and Department of Defense Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations, Peterson AFB, CO.
• April 2002 - October 2002, Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Space Command, and Department of Defense Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations, Peterson AFB, CO.
• October 2002 - 1 January 2005, Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and USNORTHCOM (as U.S. Space Command by then ceased to exist and merged into USSTRATCOM), Peterson AFB, CO.

Promotion Dates

Second Lieutenant - 5 June 1968

First Lieutenant - 5 December 1969

Captain - 5 June 1971

Major - 1 September 1979

Lieutenant Colonel - 1 November 1981

Colonel - 1 November 1984

Brigadier General - 1 March 1991

Major General - 1 July 1993

Lieutenant General - 1 July 1995

General - 1 August 1997

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2 Awards)

Distinguished Service Medal (2 Awards)

Legion of Merit (2 Awards)

Distinguished Flying Cross

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal (3 Awards)

Air Medal (12 Awards)

Air Force Commendation Medal

Presidential Unit Citation

Joint Meritorious Unit Award (3 Awards)

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (2 Awards)

Combat Readiness Medal

National Defense Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 2 Bronze Stars

Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars

Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star

Humanitarian Service Medal with Bronze Star

Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Short

Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long (2 Awards)

Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (8 Awards)

Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

Air Force Training Ribbon

Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Japan

Legion of Honor (France)

Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with Palm)

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Badges

Command Pilot Badge

Honors

Able Aeronaut Award, Pacific Air Forces

General Jimmy Doolittle Award, Air Force Association

Distinguished Achievement Award, AFA Tennessee Ernie Ford Chapter

Member, Council of Foreign Relations

Tom Lombardo Leadership Award, National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame

Thomas D. White Space Award, AFA

Air Force Order of the Sword, Air Force Space Command

General Bernard A. Schriever Award, AFA

General James V. Hartinger Award, National Defense Industrial Association, Rocky Mountain Chapter