Taylor, Daniel A, Jr.

General Taylor was born in 1939, in Perrysburg, Ohio, and graduated from Monroe (Mich.) High School. He received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich., in 1961 and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz., in 1963. He completed Armed Forces Staff College in 1971, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1976 and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University in 1984.

The general was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Michigan Technological University in July 1961 and entered active duty in August. After completing the Air Force Institute of Technology program at Arizona State University, he transferred to the 6594th Aerospace Test Wing, Air Force Systems Command, Sunnyvale, Calif., as a satellite test controller.

He received his pilot wings in August 1965 at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., and entered combat crew training at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., flying F-100s. General Taylor was then assigned to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Bien Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. Upon his return to the United States in April 1967, he served as an F-100 and F-111 instructor pilot with the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.

Upon completion of the Armed Forces Staff College, he served as an operations staff officer in the Tactical Fighter Division, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., from February 1972 until August 1975. After graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in June 1976, he was assigned as an F-4 operations officer with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. Returning to the United States in July 1977, he assumed command of the 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, flying F-111s.

In September 1978 General Taylor joined The Thunderbirds at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as the commander-leader selectee. He subsequently was promoted and assigned as the assistant deputy chief of staff for studies, analysis and gaming, Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, also at Nellis. He transferred to Randolph Air Force Base in June 1979 and established the initial Air Force Retention Group at the Military Personnel Center.

In May 1980 General Taylor was assigned to the Directorate of Materiel Management, San Antonio Air Logistics Center, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. While there he served as chief of both the Engineering Division and Systems Management Division. He transferred to Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in October 1982 and was assigned initially as the director of plans before assuming the position of assistant deputy chief of staff for plans and programs. In July 1984 the general became the director of materiel management at the Sacramento Air Logistics Center, McClellan Air Force Base, Calif., and later served there as special assistant to the commander. In October 1985 he became vice commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. He assumed his present position in August 1986.

General Taylor is a command pilot with more than 2,700 flying hours and 323 combat missions in fighter aircraft. His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 16 oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

He was promoted to brigadier general Oct. 1, 1985, with same date of rank.

source: https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/105369/brigadier-general-daniel-a-taylor-jr/