Rees, Clifford H., Jr.

“Lieutenant General Clifford H. “Ted” Rees Jr.’s last assignment was a vice commander in chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, with headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, West Germany.

General Rees was born in 1936, in Newport News, Va. He attended schools throughout the world as an Air Force dependent, graduating from Institut Montana, Zugerberg, Switzerland, in 1954. He earned a bachelor of science degree in foreign service from Georgetown University in 1958 and a master’s degree in political science from Auburn University in 1969. The general completed Air Command and Staff College In 1969, Air War College in 1978, and Harvard University’s Executive Program in National and International Security in August 1984.

He was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 1958. After completing pilot training in May 1960, he received transition training in F-100s and combat readiness training en route to the 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, S.C. He completed F-105 transition training in May 1963 and was assigned to the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. From June 1964 to September 1966 he flew 100 combat missions over North Vietnam and 35 combat missions in Laos from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand.

Upon returning to the United States, he served as an F-105 instructor pilot and chief of tactical operations, 835th Air Division, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. After graduation from Air Command and Staff College, he was assigned as operations officer, 6th Special Operations Squadron, England Air Force Base, La., flying A-37s. In June 1971 he moved to the Air Force Military Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, where he served as chief of the Fighter and Reconnaissance Manning Section.

In January 1974 he qualified in F-4s and was assigned as operations officer, 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and later as commander, 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. From May 1975 to August 1977 General Rees was chief, Tactical Fighter and Reconnaissance Operations and Training Division, at Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va. Upon graduation from the Air War College, General Rees was named chief, House Liaison Office, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

General Rees returned to the Air Force Military Personnel Center in May 1980 as assistant for colonel assignments. In April 1982 he became Air Force deputy assistant deputy chief of staff, manpower and personnel for military personnel, and vice commander of the Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center. In September 1982 the general returned to Washington, D.C., as deputy director of legislative liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. He became director of legislative liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, in June 1984. As director he advised the secretary and all principal civilian and military officials of the Department of the Air Force concerning legislative affairs. In August 1986 General Rees was assigned to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., as commander of the U.S. Air Force Air Defense Weapons Center. He assumed his present duties in May 1988.

The general is a command pilot with more than 3,200 flying hours. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal and several unit citations.

General Rees was also U.S. representative to the International Council of Military Sports (le Conseil International du Sport Militaire – CISM), an organization of 84 countries that sponsors competition in 27 individual and team sports events. He is a member of the council’s executive committee. General Rees served as national president of Delta Phi Epsilon, professional foreign service fraternity, from June 1984 to July 1986.” (1)

Source (1): https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/105836/lieutenant-general-clifford-h-ted-rees-jr/