28 June 1965 – U.S. forces launch the first major offensive in the Vietnam War. “In the first major offensive ordered for U.S. forces, 3,000...
Read MoreGeneral Joe Ashy and his wife Sue grew up in Beaumont, Texas. Joe graduated from Texas A & M University with a degree in mechanical engineering. After being commissioned, he attended flying school at Reese AFB, Texas, followed by F-100 gunnery school at Luke AFB Arizona. His first assignment was to the 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England. He then was assigned to the 3rd Tactical Wing at Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam where he flew 289 combat missions.
Other aircraft he has flown operationally include the A-7, F-4, F-5, and F-16. He also served in various staff positions during the span of is service in the USAF. He was the operations officer of an F4 squadron in Korea, followed by command of another F4 squadron (421st FS) in Utah. He later commanded two fighter wings (the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing “Wild Weasels” at George AFB, California, and then the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing at Nellis AFB).
Commands included: the USAF Fighter Weapons Center at Nellis AFB Nevada, 16th Air Force in Europe along with and a theater component command (NATO’s AIR SOUTH, where he directed operations in the Mediterranean area and air combat operations over the Balkans), and two Air Force major commands (Air Training Command and Air Force Space Command).
In his last assignment, he was “triple-hatted” as Commander-in-Chief, NORAD, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Space Command, along with Commander, Air Force Space Command.
Joe is a command pilot with over 3500 hours in fighter and attack aircraft. Decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Silver Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster. He retired from the USAF in 1996.
As president of Ashy and Associates, L.L.C., he consulted for aerospace firms, was a member of boards and USAF advisory boards, and mentored a Department of Defense course for newly promoted US flag officers and senior civilians for 20 years. He and Sue now live in College Station, Texas.
Units Assigned
- 9/1962-10/1963 Pilot training, Reese AFB, TX
- 11/1963-7/1964 Fighter training, Luke AFB, AZ (F-100)
- 8/1964-8/1967 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England (F-100)
- 8/1967-8/1968 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron/3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Weapons and Tactics Officer, Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam (F-100)
- 9/1968-8/1969, Air Staff training program, plans and operations, HQ USAF, Washington, DC
- 9/1969-6/ 1971 426th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (IP)/310th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (IP), Luke AFB, AZ (F-100, A-7)
- 6/1971-4/1972 333rd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (IP), Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ (A-7)
- 4/1972-6/1975 Action officer/Chief, fighter assignments section, Air Force Military Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, TX
- 7/1975-7/1976 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Operations officer, Osan Air Base, South Korea (F-4E)
- 8/1976-8/1978 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron/388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Commander/Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations, Hill AFB, UT (F-4D)
- 8/1978-6/1979 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
- 7/1979-8/1982, Chief, Plans and Operations/Executive Officer to the Air Force Chief of Staff, HQ, USAF, Washington, DC
- 8/1982-5/1984 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, Commander, George AFB, CA (F-4G)
- 5/1984-2/1986 57th Fighter Weapons Wing, Commander, Nellis AFB, NV (F-16)
- 2/1986-6/1988, Director, Joint Control Group, U.S. Atlantic Command Exercise Ocean Venture 1986/Inspector General, Chief of Staff/Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans; Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, VA
- 6/1988-7/1989, Commander, USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis AFB, NV (F-16)
- 7/1989-6/1990, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations; then Vice Commander, Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, VA
- 6/1990-12/ 1992, Commander, Air Training Command, Randolph AFB, TX
- 12/1992-2/1994, Commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe/Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe for the Southern Area, Naples, Italy
- 2/ 1994-9/1994 Commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe/Commander, 16th Air Force, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Naples, Italy and Aviano AB, Italy (F-16)
- 9/1994-9/1996, Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Space Command, and Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO
- 1996 Retired USAF
Awards & Decorations

Defense Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Silver Star

Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster

Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Air Medal with 2 Silver/2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

Air Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal

Presidential Unit Citation

Joint Meritorious Service Medal

Gallant Unit Citation with Valor Device/3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Outstanding Unit Citation

Combat Readiness Award

AF Recognition Award

National Defense Ribbon with Bronze Star

Vietnam Service Award with 3 Bronze Stars

Korean Defense Service Medal

Armed Forces Service Medal

Overseas Short Term Service Award with Oak Leaf Cluster

Overseas Long Term Service Award

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

Small Arms Marksmanship Award

Air Force Training Ribbon

Canadian Meritorious Service Cross

Vietnam Gallantry Award with Palm

NATO Award

Vietnam Campaign Award

Command Pilot Specialty Badge
Flight Info
F-100
A-7
F-4 D/E/G
F-5
F-16
Military & Civilian Education
Military Education:
- 1979 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
Civilian Education:
- 1962 BS/Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University
- 1979 MBA/Public Administration, Auburn University, AL
- 1987 MA National Security Programs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University