Robert Aitken “Bob” Rushworth (October 9, 1924 – March 18, 1993[1]) was an American United States Air Force major general, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War pilot, mechanical and aeronautical engineer, test pilot and Astronaut. He was...
Read MoreMajor General Stephen Phelps Cortright USAF (retired) (born March 26, 1941), is an American military officer and attorney from Oklahoma who served as the Adjutant General of Oklahoma under Governor Frank Keating from 1995 to 2003. Concurrent with his service as Adjutant General, Cortright served in Keating’s Cabinet as the Oklahoma Secretary of the Military.
General Cortright joined the United States Air Force on February 14, 1964. On May 12, 1964, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and entered undergraduate pilot training at Webb Air Force Base in Texas. He is a command pilot with over 5000 hours of military flying time in the T-33, T-37, T-38, RF-4C, F100, A-7, and F-16 aircraft. He flew 217 combat missions while serving in Vietnam from September 1966 through July 1967.
Following the end of the Vietnam War, Cortright returned to Oklahoma and became the operations officer with the 125th Tactical Fighter Squadron in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He later became the Squadron’s commander. He then served as the Commander of the 138th Tactical Fighter Group, also based in Tulsa. From 1988 to 1992, Cortright was appointed the headquarters commander of the Oklahoma Air National Guard. In 1992, he served as the Air National Guard Assistant to the commander, Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.
In 1995, Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating appointed Cortright to serve as the Adjutant General of Oklahoma, succeeding Gary Maynard. As Adjutant General, General Cortright was the highest-ranking military official in Oklahoma, ranking only behind Governor Keating in his role as Commander-in-Chief. General Cortright oversaw the Oklahoma Military Department and the Oklahoma National Guard. The General remained in that position until the end of Keating’s term in 2003.[2] He was succeeded by Air Force General Harry M. Wyatt III.
Units Assigned
- 5/1964-11/1965 Student pilot training, Webb AFB, TX
- 11/1965-9/1966 32nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Toul Rosieres AB, France
- 9/1966-7/1967 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Tan Son Knut AB, Vietnam
- 8/1967-7/1970 32nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Royal Air Force, Alconbury, England
- 9/1970-8/1983 125th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Operations officer, Tulsa, OK (F-100)
- 8/1983-1/1984 125th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Commander, Tulsa, OK (F-100)
- 1/1984-4/1988 138th Tactical Fighter Group, Commander Tulsa, OK
- 4/1988-3/1992 commander of headquarters, Oklahoma ANG, Oklahoma City, OK
- 3/1992-3/1995 Air National Guard Assistant to the commander, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, HI
- 4/1995 – present, the adjutant general of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- 2003 Retired USAF
Awards & Decorations

Legion of Merit

Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster

Air Medal with 2 Silver/3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

Air Force Commendation Medal

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

National Defense Service Medal

Air Force Longevity Service Award with 1 Silver/2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Hourglass Device

Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Award with Bronze Star

Air Force Training Ribbon

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Oklahoma Meritorious Service Medal

Oklahoma Governor’s Distinguished Unit Award

Oklahoma Commander’s Trophy Award

Oklahoma National Guard Long Service Medal (25 Years)

Humanitarian Service Award
Flight Info
T-33
T-37
T-38
RF 4C
F-100D/F
A-7D/K
F-16C/D
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: 5,000+
Military & Civilian Education
Military Education:
- 1964 United States Air Force Officer Training School
- 1974 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
- 1975 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
- 1977 Industrial College of the Armed Forces, by correspondence
Civilian Education:
- 1964 BS/Business Administration, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
- 1973 Juris Doctor Degree of Law, University of Tulsa