William Fulton McKee
General, U.S. Air Force

William Fulton McKee was born on 17 October 1906 at Chilhowie, VA. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps of the Regular Army upon graduation on 13 June 1929.

Military Career

His first assignment was with the 13th Coast Artillery at Fort Barrancas, FL. He then went to Fort Randolph in the Panama Canal Zone where he served as a Battery Officer in the First Coast Artillery. After two years at that station, he was transferred to the 63rd Coast Artillery at Fort MacArthur, CA, where he served as Battery Commander; Assistant Adjutant of the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles; and later as the Executive Officer of the Civilian Conservation Corps in that area.

In September 1935, he became a student at the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe, VA. Upon completion of the course the following June, he was assigned to Fort Mills, Corregidor, Philippine Islands as Regimental Adjutant, Plans Training and Intelligence Officer, and Battery Commander of the 63rd Coast Artillery.

Returning to the U.S. in October 1938, he was assigned to the Presidio of San Francisco, CA, as Assistant to the G-2, Ninth Corps Area.

The following October he was again ordered to foreign duty - this time at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, where he became Battery Commander and later, Commanding Officer, of the 66th Coast Artillery, transferring with that organization to Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico. He later became Executive Officer of the Caribbean Interceptor Command under Major General Follett Bradley.

In October 1941, he returned to the U.S. for assignment to the 71st Coast Artillery at Fort Story, VA, as Battalion Commander and Regimental Adjutant of the First Battalion. He later performed the same duties when his division moved to the Naval Operating Base at Norfolk, VA.

In January 1942, he was assigned to Headquarters Army Air Forces and was later appointed Chief of the Anti-Aircraft and Airdrome Defense Section and Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division. Shortly thereafter, he became Executive Officer for the Directorate of Air Defense.

In November 1943, he became Deputy Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Operations, Commitments and Requirements, which corresponds roughly to the present Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations.

In January 1946, he was appointed Chief of Staff of Air Transport Command with headquarters in Washington, DC. The following August he went to Europe as Commanding General of the European Division, ATC, with station at Paris, France. In December 1946 he transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Europe at Wiesbaden, Germany, and the following month became Commanding General of the Headquarters Command of USAFE at Wiesbaden.

Returning to the U.S. in August 1947, he was appointed Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force on 27 September 1947.

He was assigned to Headquarters Air Materiel Command as Vice Commander on 10 June 1953. On 1 April 1961, Air Materiel Command was redesignated Air Force Logistics Command.

On 1 August 1961, McKee was promoted to the four-star rank of General and assumed the post of Commander, Air Force Logistics Command.

On 1 July 1962, McKee became Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force in Washington.

General McKee retired from the Air Force on 31 July 1964.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Honors

He was presented the first annual Distinguished Management Award of the Air Force Association on 31 July 1957.

In Retirement

After retiring from the military, McKee briefly served as the Assistant Administrator for Management Development at NASA.

In 1965, he was chosen by President Lyndon Johnson to head the Federal Aviation Administration. After leaving the FAA, he was president of Schriever-McKee Associates (later Schriever & McKee, Inc.) in Arlington, VA, from 1968 to 1987.

Death and Burial

General William Fulton McKee died on 28 February 1987 in San Antonio, TX, after a brief illness. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 30.

He was survived by his wife, Gertrude, and two sons. His wife died 26 October 1990 and is buried with her husband.