David E B (Deb) WardMajor General David E.B. DEB Ward retired after completing over 36 years of military service with the U.S. Air Force and Oregon Air National Guard. He held several command positions in Aircraft Maintenance and Operations and was promoted to Colonel wen he became Commander of the 142nd Fighter Group (now wing) flying the F-4 Phantom. When he was selected to command the Oregon State Air National Guard, he received his promotion to Brigadier General.General Ward graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon in June 1960 with a BA in Mathematics, and through the University's Air Force ROTC program he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force at the same time.After graduating from Air Force pilot training in March of 1962 he became a jet instructor pilot in the T-33 aircraft at Laughlin AFB, Texas. Approximately midway through his tour, he transitioned into the supersonic T-38.He received an unaccompanied remote duty assignment to Osan Air Base, Korea as a Forward Air Controller and T-33 Instructor Pilot in 1966 and after one year overseas he returned to the States and resigned from the Air Force. In August of 1967, he joined the Oregon Air National Guard and completed F-102 Interceptor Training in February 1968.In April 1968, He joined Pan American Airways as a pilot-flight engineer, but at the end of 1969, he was furloughed for over 17 years.In 1971 he became a full-time instructor pilot, flight examiner, and functional test flight pilot, in the 142nd Fighter Interceptor Group prior to assuming command positions in the unit.Beginning in January 1986, he was selected for an 18-month active duty tour flying the F-4D Phantom at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It was the first time an Air National Guard Unit provided combat alert for a customary Air Force mission. He served as the alert detachment's Vice Commander and Chief of Aircraft Maintenance. During this tour, he was recalled from furlough by Pan Am and upon his return to Portland resigned from his full-time Oregon ANG position and was selected to serve as the 142nd Fighter Group Commander as a traditional guardsman.In his military flying career, the General had logged over 6400 hours in tactical jet trainers and fighter aircraft including the last 6 years flying the F-15 Eagle. At the end of his military flying career, he was possibly the oldest operational fighter pilot in the country at the age of 57. He was also a commercial pilot for Pan American World Airways and later for Delta Air Lines. He has flown many different types of airplanes by different manufacturers to include: Cessna 140, 150, 172, U-3, T-37, Citation; Lockheed T-33, L-1011; Northrop T-38, Boeing 707, 727, 757, 767; Airbus A-310; Republic F-105; Convair F-102; McDonnell F-101, F-4, F-15; De Havilland L-20; and General Dynamics F-16.General Ward's final military assignment was as the Air National Guard's Special Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe. It was during the time of the War in Bosnia wherein a Command mission observation role, he flew several humanitarian missions in Air National Guard C-130 aircraft. The Command was also responsible for enforcing the 'no-fly zone over Northern Iraq at the conclusion of the First Gulf War. The Air National Guard had significant involvement in both missions as well as others in Europe and Africa.He is a graduate of the Air Force, Air War College. Read More Read Less