Gary L. North | |
|---|---|
 General Gary L. North, USAF Commander, Pacific Air Forces | |
| Born | May 14, 1954[1] Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.[2] |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1976–2012 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands |
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| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit (2) |
Gary Lewis North (born May 14, 1954[1]) is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as commander of Pacific Air Forces and executive director of Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, from August 19, 2009, to August 9, 2012. Pacific Air Forces is responsible for Air Force activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports 45,000 airmen serving principally in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Korea and Japan.
North was commissioned in 1976 as a distinguished graduate from East Carolina University's Air Force ROTC program. He has held numerous operational, command and staff positions, and has completed four long and four short overseas tours. The general has served two tours on the Joint Staff, serving as executive officer to the director of the Joint Staff, and as director of politico-military affairs for Asia-Pacific, where he was responsible for regional planning and policy for the Asia-Pacific, South Asia and Central Asia regions. He has served on the Air Force Staff as the chief of Joint Requirements Division and deputy director of joint matters, and as the director for operations, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. Prior to his last assignment, North was the commander of 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., comprising six wings in the 9th AF and eight air expeditionary wings in Air Forces Central, and served as the U.S. Central Command Combined Forces air component commander and service functional air component commander for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
North has also commanded the 33rd Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.; 35th Operations Group at Misawa Air Base, Japan; 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea; and the 18th Wing at Kadena AB, Japan. He is a command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours, primarily in the F-4, F-15 and F-16. He flew 83 combat missions in Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
- ^ a b Air Force Register (PDF). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. January 1, 1979. p. 624.
- ^ "9th Air Force commander changes hands at Shaw". 17 February 2006.