William Lee Shelton(born February 25, 1954)[1][2][3]is a formerUnited States Air Forcefour-stargeneralwho last served as the commander ofAir Force Space Commandfrom January 5, 2011, to August 15, 2014. He had been the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and Air Staff Director. He had served as chief of warfighting integration and chief information officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Shelton held numerous positions of leadership throughout theUnited States Air Force.He retired from the Air Force on September 1, 2014.

William L. Shelton
General William L. Shelton, USAF
Commander, Air Force Space Command
Born(1954-02-25)February 25, 1954(age 70)[1]
Tulsa, Oklahoma,U.S.
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/ branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1976–2014
RankGeneral
Unitvarious USAF, DoD Joint
Commands14th Air Force
Joint Functional Component Command for Space
Air Force Space Command
AwardsAir Force Distinguished Service Medal(3)
Defense Superior Service Medal(2)
Legion of Merit(2)

Biography

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Background and education

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Shelton graduated from theUnited States Air Force AcademyinColorado Springs, Colorado,in 1976 with aBachelor of Scienceinastronautical engineering.He earned aMaster of Sciencedegree in astronautical engineering in 1980 from theAir Force Institute of Technology.[4]

US Air Force officer career

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Upon graduation, Shelton was commissioned as asecond lieutenanton June 2, 1976.[1]His first assignment was as a launch facilities manager, launch director and technical assistant to the commander from August 1976 to May 1979 at theSpace and Missile Test Center,Vandenberg AFBin California. While at Vandenberg, he was promoted to first lieutenant on June 2, 1978. Following his first assignment, Shelton reported to theUS Air Force Institute of TechnologyatWright-Patterson AFB,Ohio.He graduated with aMaster of Sciencein astronautical engineering in December 1980.[4]

After graduation, Shelton was assigned to theJohnson Space CenterinHouston, Texas,where he worked as a space shuttle flight controller until July 1985. While in Texas he was promoted to the rank of captain on June 2, 1980, and to the rank of major on May 1, 1985. In July 1985, Shelton moved on to theArmed Forces Staff CollegeinNorfolk, Virginia.Following staff college, he was assigned to work for the deputy chief of staff for operations atAir Force Space CommandonPeterson AFBinColorado Springs, Colorado.He moved on from Colorado Springs in August 1988 toWashington, D.C.,to work for theSecretary of the Air Forcein the office of Space Plans and Policy. Promoted tolieutenant colonelon March 1, 1990, he took command of the2d Space Operations SquadronatFalcon AFBinColoradoin August of the same year.[4]

After his first command tour, Shelton served as executive officer to the vice commander, Air Force Space Command, for a year beginning in June 1992. He moved on to assume command of the50th Operations Groupat Falcon AFB from June 1993 to July 1994. While in command he was promoted tocolonelon February 1, 1994. Following his second command tour, Shelton returned to school at theNational War CollegeatFort Lesley J. McNairin Washington, D.C. There he earned aMaster of Sciencein national security strategy, graduating in May 1995.[4]

Following his War College tour, Shelton served as the deputy program manager and executive assistant for theCooperative Threat ReductionProgram Office, which fell under the Office of theAssistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programsin Washington, D.C. In 1996, he attended the Program for Senior Officials in National Security atSyracuse UniversityandJohns Hopkins University.In September 1997 he assumed command of the90th Space WingatFrancis E. Warren AFBinWyoming.From September 1999 to July 2000 he was again in Washington, D.C., this time as the chief of the Space Superiority Division in the Office of the deputy chief of staff for plans and programs. He followed this assignment by serving from July 2000 to November 2000 as director of manpower and organization in the same office.[4]

Flag assignments

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Shelton speaking at Air Force Space Command's 30th anniversary in 2012

In November 2000 Shelton moved to assume the role of director of requirements at the headquarters ofAir Force Space CommandinColorado Springs, Colorado.There he was promoted to brigadier general on January 1, 2001. He stayed at Air Force Space Command until June 2003 holding various positions, including director of plans and programs and director of air and space operations.[4]

Following his tour at Air Force Space Command, he moved on to theUnited States Strategic CommandonOffutt AFBinBellevue, Nebraska.There he served as director of capability and resource integration and director of plans and policy. He was also promoted tomajor generalon July 1, 2004.[4]

In May 2005, Shelton moved to assume command of the14th Air Forcefrom Vandenberg AFB. In July 2006, he also assumed command of theJoint Functional Component Command for Space,which is attached to theUnited States Strategic Command.[4]

The president nominated Shelton for the appointment to lieutenant general with continued assignment as the 14 AF/CC and CDR JFCC SPACE (Ref: 8 November 2007 Senior Leader Announcement, AF/A1). After Senate confirmation, Lt Gen Shelton pinned on his new rank 8 January 2008. GenKevin P. Chilton,CDRUSSTRATCOM, presided; GenC. Robert Kehler,AFSPC/CC, also spoke during the ceremony held at Vandenberg AFB, California.[4]

In December 2008, Lt Gen Shelton was appointed chief of warfighting integration and chief information officer (CIO), Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

On 5 January 2011, Lt General Shelton was promoted to the rank of general and became commander, Air Force Space Command.

Badges, awards and decorations

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Master Space Operations Badge
Master Cyberspace Operator Badge
BasicParachutist Badge
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
Headquarters Air Force badge
Air Force Distinguished Service Medalwith twooak leaf clusters
Defense Superior Service Medalwith oak leaf cluster
Legion of Meritwith oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medalwith oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medalwith four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Awardwith two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awardwith one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Awardwith two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medalwith bronzeservice star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Awardwith silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Training Ribbon

Effective dates of promotion

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Source:[1][4]

Insignia Rank Date
General January 5, 2011
Lieutenant general December 20, 2007
Major general July 1, 2004
Brigadier general January 1, 2001
Colonel February 1, 1994
Lieutenant colonel March 1, 1990
Major May 1, 1985
Captain June 2, 1980
First lieutenant June 2, 1978
Second lieutenant June 2, 1976


References

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  1. ^abcdAir Force Register(PDF).Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1979-01-01. p. 769.
  2. ^"You searched: William Lee Shelton 19540225".Public Background Checks.Retrieved2013-04-03.
  3. ^Bryan Dean."Oklahoman to lead U.S. Air Force Space Command".News OK.Retrieved2013-04-03.
  4. ^abcdefghij"General William L. Shelton".United States Air Force. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-08-01.Retrieved2014-07-10.