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Joseph W. Ashy | |
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| Born | October 16, 1940 Jasper, Texas, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1962–1996 |
| Rank |  General |
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| Battles / wars | Vietnam War |
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Joseph William Ashy,[1] (born October 16, 1940)[2] is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) general who was commander in chief of North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Space Command, and commander of Air Force Space Command, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. As commander of NORAD, General Ashy was responsible for the air sovereignty of the United States and Canada, as well as for providing tactical warning and attack assessment. As USCINCSPACE, he commanded the unified command responsible for directing space control and support operations including theater missile defense. As COMAFSPC, he directed satellite control, warning, space launch and ballistic missile operations missions through a worldwide network of support facilities and bases.
Ashy entered the U.S. Air Force in 1962 as a distinguished graduate of Texas A&M University. He has commanded two fighter wings, the USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; and Air Training Command. He also commanded NATO's Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and the USAF Sixteenth Air Force. As the air component commander to Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCAFSOUTH), he commanded NATO air forces in the Mediterranean area and directed the air operation over Bosnia. He was a command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours in fighter and attack aircraft, including 289 combat missions in Vietnam.
He holds a master's degree in public administration from Auburn University. He retired on October 1, 1996.