Duane H. Cassidy

Duane H. Cassidy
Duane H. Cassidy
	Official portrait
Born	November 24, 1933; Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Died	February 8, 2016 (aged 82); Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1954–1989
Rank	General
Commands	8th Airlift Squadron; 63rd Airlift Wing; 21st Air Force; Military Airlift Command; United States Transportation Command
Battles / wars	Cold War; Korean War; Vietnam War

Duane Harlan Cassidy^[2] (November 24, 1933 – February 8, 2016) was a general in the United States Air Force and the former commander of the Military Airlift Command and United States Transportation Command.

Biography

Early life

Cassidy was born in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, in 1933.^[3] He earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Nebraska in 1968 and a master of science degree from Troy State University in 1975. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1961 at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1973, the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in 1979, and the program for senior executives in national and international security at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, in 1983.^[1]

Military career

Upon completion of aviation cadet training, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1954. He then attended navigator training at Harlingen and James Connally Air Force Bases, Texas. His initial operational assignments in the Air Force were to the Military Air Transport Service: first to the Air Weather Service's 6th Weather Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, flying B-25 Mitchells, and then to Air Rescue Service's 49th Air Rescue Squadron, Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan. During these assignments he participated in numerous rescue and weather reconnaissance missions, including the hydrogen weapons test in 1956 at Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands. His navigator assignments ended after two years as a Military Air Transport Service C-121 Constellation line crew member at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. He entered pilot training in December 1958.^[1]

Cassidy was assigned to Strategic Air Command after graduation from pilot training and flew B-47 Stratojets at McCoy Air Force Base, Florida, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, and Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska. In November 1965, he transferred to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, and served with the 810th Strategic Aerospace Division, whose mission included B-52 Stratofortress bomber and LGM-30 Minuteman missile operations. In September 1968, he was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam, serving first with 7th Air Force's Tactical Air Control Center and then with the Military Assistance Command's Vietnam Directorate of Public Affairs as an air briefer to the Saigon press corps.^[1]

He returned to the Air Force airlift mission in October 1969. He was assigned to Military Airlift Command headquarters as executive to the deputy chief of staff for operations, and later as executive aide and pilot for the Military Airlift Command commander. In August 1972, he assumed command of the 8th Airlift Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Washington. He entered the Air War College in August 1974 and, upon graduation, again served at Military Airlift Command headquarters, as assistant chief of staff.^[1]

In August 1976, Cassidy was assigned as vice commander of the 63rd Airlift Wing at Norton Air Force Base, California. In February 1978, he became commander of the wing. He returned to Military Airlift Command headquarters in July 1980 and served initially as assistant deputy chief of staff for operations. In August 1981, he became the command's deputy chief of staff for operations.^[1]

From October 1983 to August 1984, he served as commander of Military Airlift Command's 21st Air Force at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey During this period, Military Airlift Command was heavily involved in support of United States' operations in Lebanon and Grenada. General Cassidy then transferred to Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington D.C., where he served as deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel. He was promoted to general November 8, 1985, with same date of rank. The general assumed command of Military Airlift Command in September 1985 and of the United States Transportation Command upon its activation Oct. 1, 1987.^[1] He died from cancer on February 8, 2016,^[4] and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on November 18, 2016.

Awards

Awards earned during his career:^[1]

	US Air Force Command Pilot Badge

	US Air Force Senior Navigator Badge
	Basic Parachutist badge
	United States Transportation Command Badge

	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
	Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Bronze Star
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Air Medal
	Air Force Commendation Medal
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
	Combat Readiness Medal
	Army Good Conduct Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Antarctica Service Medal
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Vietnam Service Medal with silver service star
	Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Training Ribbon
	Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
	Vietnam Campaign Medal