Henry Viccellio Jr.

General, U.S. Air Force

Henry Viccellio Jr. was born on 4 August 1940 in San Francisco, CA.

Military Career

Viccellio graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1962. He then attended pilot training at Webb AFB, TX, and received his pilot wings in September 1963. From October 1963 to June 1964, he attended F-100 Super Sabre combat crew training at Luke AFB, AZ.

He flew the F-100 with the 309th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Homestead AFB, FL, from June 1964 to October 1965. In October he began a one-year tour as an A-1E Skyraider pilot with the 602nd Fighter Squadron at Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand. The next two years were spent as an Olmsted Scholar at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in Mexico City. In October 1968, he attended American University in Washington, DC, where he graduated in June 1969 with a Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies.

From June 1969 to August 1970, he was part of the Air Staff Training Program, Staff Officer, Directorate of Concepts and Doctrine at U.S. Air Force Headquarters, Washington, DC. He was then a F-4D Phantom II Maintenance Officer for the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Holloman AFB, NM, until November 1971. He was then transferred to the 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, as an F-4D Flight Commander. In January 1973 he became a student at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA. Graduating six months later, he became a Liaison Officer to the U.S. Senate until October 1975.

From November 1975 to April 1976, he was the Chief, Standardization and Evaluation Division, 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, FL. He spent the period April-November 1976 he as Operations Officer of the 59th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Eglin. In 1977 he became the Commander of the Squadron. He next served as Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations for the 33rd.

From November 1977 until March 1981, he was Chief, Rated Officer Career Management Branch, Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, TX. He then became Vice Commander of the 507th Tactical Air Control Wing at Shaw AFB, SC, for the next six months. From October 1981 to March 1983, he was the Vice Commander, and later, Commander, of the 56th Tactical Training Wing at MacDill AFB, FL. He then became Commander of the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, VA, from March 1983 to June 1985.

He was Vice Commander of the San Antonio Air Logistics Center at Kelly AFB, TX, from June 1985 to September 1986. He then became Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics at Tactical Air Command Headquarters, Langley, until April 1989.

From May-September 1989, Viccellio was Vice Commander of the Tactical Air Command. From October 1989 to February 1991, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Engineering, U.S. Air Force Headquarters, Washington, DC. After spending three months as Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics for the Air Force, he became Director of the Joint Staff in Washington until December 1992.

On 1 December 1992, Viccellio was promoted to the four-star rank of General and assigned as Commander, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, TX, until June 1995. General Viccellio then became Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, until his retirement

General Viccellio retired from the Air Force on 1 June 1997. During his service, he became a Command Pilot with over 3,000 flying hours.

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Distinguished Service Medal

Legion of Merit (2 Awards)

Distinguished Flying Cross (2 Awards)

Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards)

Air Medal (12 Awards)

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

Badges

Command Pilot
Parachutist Badge

Promotion Dates

Second Lieutenant: 6 June 1962

First Lieutenant: 6 December 1963

Captain: 6 December 1966

Major: 1 March 1971

Lieutenant Colonel: 1 May 1975

Colonel: 1 May 1978

Brigadier General: 1 October 1984

Major General: 1 August 1987

Lieutenant General: 1 May 1989

General: 1 December 1992

Personal

General Viccellio is the son of Air Force Lieutenant General Henry Viccellio Sr., Commander of the Continental Air Command from 1 August 1966 - 1 August 1968.

His son is stage actor Benjamin Viccellio.