Paul V. Hester | |
---|---|
Born | West Point, Mississippi[1] | October 21, 1947
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Air Force |
Years of service | 1970–2007 |
Rank | General |
Commands | Pacific Air Forces Air Force Special Operations Command United States Forces Japan Fifth Air Force 53rd Wing 35th Fighter Wing 18th Operations Group 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (3) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) |
Paul V. Hester (born October 21, 1947) is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) general . He served as Commander, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Component Commander for the Commander, United States Pacific Command from July 2004 to November 2007. He had responsibility for USAF activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports 55,500 Air Force personnel serving in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Japan and South Korea.
Hester was commissioned through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at the University of Mississippi. He earned his wings in December 1971 at Columbus AFB, Mississippi. A command pilot and combat veteran, Hester has more than 200 combat hours in Southeast Asia and has accumulated more than 2,900 flight hours during his career. Additionally, he served as an instructor in the A-7 Corsair, F-4 Phantom and F-15 Eagle in operational and training units. Hester commanded the 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 18th Operations Group, 35th Fighter Wing, 53rd Wing and United States Forces Japan and 5th Air Force at Yokota Air Base. He also served as Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command in Hurlburt Field, Florida.
Hester's staff tours include duty in the Directorate of Plans, as a member of the Commander's Action Group at Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Chief of the Air Force's Legislative Liaison Office at the United States House of Representatives, Division Chief in J-5 of the Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and Director of Air Force Legislative Liaison for the Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. He also served as the Air Component Commander and force provider to Joint Task Force-536 during Operation Unified Assistance in support of the South Asia tsunami relief effort.
US Air Force Command Pilot Badge | |
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |
Defense Distinguished Service Medal | |
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters | |
Defense Superior Service Medal | |
Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters | |
Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters | |
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters | |
Air Force Commendation Medal | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters | |
Combat Readiness Medal | |
National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars | |
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | |
Vietnam Service Medal with one service star | |
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon | |
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters | |
Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters | |
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon | |
Air Force Training Ribbon | |
Japanese Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure | |
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | |
Vietnam Campaign Medal |
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force