James “Jim” Record

 

Preferred Name: Jim

Nickname/Call Sign: Jim

Date of Birth: 9-6-1938

Highest Military Grade Held: Lt. General

Hometown: Tucson, AZ

James-Record

Biography

Lieutenant General James F. Record is commander, 12th Air Force and U.S. Southern Command Air Forces, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The command is comprised of eight active-duty wings in the Western and Midwestern United States and Panama with more than 450 aircraft and 35,000 active-duty military and civilian personnel. He also ensures the operational readiness of 12th Air Force-gained units of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, featuring an additional 21,000 people and more than 360 aircraft. His duties also involve overseeing U.S. Air Force assets provided to U.S. Southern Command in Central and South America as commander of the air component to that unified command. He also serves as the Air Force commander of Component Task Force 224, the Battle Management arm of U.S. Strategic Command.

The general was born and raised in Indiana. He entered the Air Force in 1961, following graduation from Purdue University and commissioning through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He has commanded three fighter wings, an air division, served as the first deputy commander of Joint Task Force Middle East operating in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, and served as commander of Joint Task Force Southwest Asia. General Record also served in the Pentagon, and has held high level joint duty positions with U.S. Central Command, United Nations Command and the Republic of Korea and United States Combined Forces Command. He is a command pilot, having flown more than 6,000 hours, principally in fighter aircraft. He flew 616 combat missions in Southeast Asia.

EDUCATION

  • 1961 Bachelor’s degree in animal science, Purdue University, Ind.
  • 1964 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
  • 1971 Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
  • 1972 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
  • 1972 Master’s degree in public administration, Auburn University, Ala.
  • 1975 Research associate, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas, Austin
  • 1977 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. November 1961 – December 1962, student, pilot training, 3640th Pilot Training Wing, Laredo Air Force Base, Texas
  2. January 1963 – November 1968, T-33 and T-38 instructor pilot, 3640th Pilot Training Squadron, Laredo Air Force Base, Texas
  3. March 1967 – May 1968, 0-1 and 0-2 forward air controller, Chu Lai, Hue, Quang Tri, and Khe Sahn Air Base, South Vietnam
  4. May 1968 – January 1969, F-100 instructor pilot, 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam
  5. January 1969 – August 1971, flight and academic instructor, U.S. Air Force Instrument Instructor Pilot Training, 3511th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
  6. August 1971 – August 1972, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
  7. August 1972 – May 1975, air operations officer, fighter division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Resources, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  8. June 1975 – June 1976, research associate, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas, Austin
  9. August 1976 – June 1977, student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
  10. June 1977 – November 1979, chief of safety; later, combat support group deputy commander; later, combat support group commander, 347th Tactical Fighter Wing, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
  11. March 1980 – March 1982, assistant deputy commander for operations; later, deputy commander for operations, 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing, England Air Force Base, La.
  12. March 1982 – May 1983, vice commander; later, commander, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
  13. May 1983 – May 1984, commander, 58th Tactical Training Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
  14. May 1984 – October 1985, commander, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah
  15. October 1985 – September 1987, commander, 833rd Air Division, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
  16. September 1987 – March 1988, deputy commander, Joint Task Force Middle East (Afloat), Persian Gulf-North Arabian Sea
  17. March 1988 – June 1990, director of operations, Headquarters U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
  18. June 1990 – June 1992, chief of staff, United Nations Command and Republic of Korea/United States Combined Forces Command, Yongsan Army Garrison, Seoul, South Korea
  19. June 1992 – June 1995, vice commander, 12th Air Force and U.S. Southern Command Air Forces, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (While in that position, he took command of Joint Task Force Southwest Asia from November 1992 until March 1993)

June 1995 – present, commander, 12th Air Force and U.S. Southern Command Air Forces, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

  • Rating: Command pilot
  • Flight hours: More than 6,000
  • Aircraft flown: A-7, A-10, F-4, F-15, F-16, F-100, O-1, O-2, T-33, T-38 and T-39

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
  • Defense Superior Service Medal
  • Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
  • Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters
  • Bronze Star Medal
  • Defense Meritorious Service Medal
  • Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
  • Air Medal with 27 oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Commendation Medal
  • Vietnam Service Medal with six service stars
  • Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
  • Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

  • Second Lieutenant Jun 3, 1961
  • First Lieutenant May 15, 1963
  • Captain May 15, 1966
  • Major Mar 1, 1971
  • Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 1975
  • Colonel Jan 1, 1980
  • Brigadier General Oct 1, 1985
  • Major General Aug 1, 1988
  • Lieutenant General Oct 31, 1995
Lieutenant General James Record started life as a farm boy, born in Clinton County, Indiana on September 6, 1938, the son of Edwin and Enid Record.
At an early age, he was excited by the thought of flying so he took lessons and got his pilot’s license while in college.
He continued chasing his dreams with this same tenacity his entire life.
A Distinguished Graduate from ROTC at Purdue University, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force in 1961.
During college, he was a leader on the Purdue AF ROTC Drill Team which won several national honors, including National Champions.
Today, he is a member of the Purdue AF ROTC Hall of Fame. General Record’s Air Force career followed suit. He moved through the ranks, excelling during each assignment. He was a command pilot who flew two separate tours of duty in Vietnam, one as a Forward Air Controller and one as an F-100 fighter pilot, flying 616 combat missions and over 1,100 combat hours. He piloted 11 different aircraft totaling over 6,000 flying hours in his 36 years of service. He commanded three fighter wings, an air division, and served as the first Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force Southwest Asia. Culminating this distinguished career, he commanded 12th Air Force and U.S. Southern Command Air Forces comprised of eight active duty wings, over 450 aircraft, 35,000 active duty and civilian personnel as well as 21,000 Reserve and National Guard forces with over 360 aircraft.
His military decorations include the Vietnam Service Medal with six service stars, 27 Air Medals, the Bronze Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster.
General Record retired from Air Force service in 1997. He then served a two year assignment as a Senior Executive for Hughes/Raytheon in Saudi Arabia.
Upon returning, he began his next career in an executive position with Raytheon Missile Systems in their business development division. He worked there until 2007 when he retired for the second time.
General Record died peacefully on December 22, 2009.
He is survived by his mother, Enid; his wife, Peggy; sons, James, John and Joe, as well as brother, Ray and sisters, Arlene Harshbarger and Barbara Wo
Biography

Biography

Lieutenant General James F. Record is commander, 12th Air Force and U.S. Southern Command Air Forces, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The command is comprised of eight active-duty wings in the Western and Midwestern United States and Panama with more than 450 aircraft and 35,000 active-duty military and civilian personnel. He also ensures the operational readiness of 12th Air Force-gained units of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, featuring an additional 21,000 people and more than 360 aircraft. His duties also involve overseeing U.S. Air Force assets provided to U.S. Southern Command in Central and South America as commander of the air component to that unified command. He also serves as the Air Force commander of Component Task Force 224, the Battle Management arm of U.S. Strategic Command.

The general was born and raised in Indiana. He entered the Air Force in 1961, following graduation from Purdue University and commissioning through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He has commanded three fighter wings, an air division, served as the first deputy commander of Joint Task Force Middle East operating in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, and served as commander of Joint Task Force Southwest Asia. General Record also served in the Pentagon, and has held high level joint duty positions with U.S. Central Command, United Nations Command and the Republic of Korea and United States Combined Forces Command. He is a command pilot, having flown more than 6,000 hours, principally in fighter aircraft. He flew 616 combat missions in Southeast Asia.

EDUCATION

  • 1961 Bachelor’s degree in animal science, Purdue University, Ind.
  • 1964 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
  • 1971 Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
  • 1972 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
  • 1972 Master’s degree in public administration, Auburn University, Ala.
  • 1975 Research associate, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas, Austin
  • 1977 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. November 1961 – December 1962, student, pilot training, 3640th Pilot Training Wing, Laredo Air Force Base, Texas
  2. January 1963 – November 1968, T-33 and T-38 instructor pilot, 3640th Pilot Training Squadron, Laredo Air Force Base, Texas
  3. March 1967 – May 1968, 0-1 and 0-2 forward air controller, Chu Lai, Hue, Quang Tri, and Khe Sahn Air Base, South Vietnam
  4. May 1968 – January 1969, F-100 instructor pilot, 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam
  5. January 1969 – August 1971, flight and academic instructor, U.S. Air Force Instrument Instructor Pilot Training, 3511th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
  6. August 1971 – August 1972, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
  7. August 1972 – May 1975, air operations officer, fighter division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Resources, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  8. June 1975 – June 1976, research associate, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas, Austin
  9. August 1976 – June 1977, student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
  10. June 1977 – November 1979, chief of safety; later, combat support group deputy commander; later, combat support group commander, 347th Tactical Fighter Wing, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
  11. March 1980 – March 1982, assistant deputy commander for operations; later, deputy commander for operations, 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing, England Air Force Base, La.
  12. March 1982 – May 1983, vice commander; later, commander, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
  13. May 1983 – May 1984, commander, 58th Tactical Training Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
  14. May 1984 – October 1985, commander, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah
  15. October 1985 – September 1987, commander, 833rd Air Division, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
  16. September 1987 – March 1988, deputy commander, Joint Task Force Middle East (Afloat), Persian Gulf-North Arabian Sea
  17. March 1988 – June 1990, director of operations, Headquarters U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
  18. June 1990 – June 1992, chief of staff, United Nations Command and Republic of Korea/United States Combined Forces Command, Yongsan Army Garrison, Seoul, South Korea
  19. June 1992 – June 1995, vice commander, 12th Air Force and U.S. Southern Command Air Forces, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (While in that position, he took command of Joint Task Force Southwest Asia from November 1992 until March 1993)

June 1995 – present, commander, 12th Air Force and U.S. Southern Command Air Forces, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

  • Rating: Command pilot
  • Flight hours: More than 6,000
  • Aircraft flown: A-7, A-10, F-4, F-15, F-16, F-100, O-1, O-2, T-33, T-38 and T-39

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
  • Defense Superior Service Medal
  • Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
  • Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters
  • Bronze Star Medal
  • Defense Meritorious Service Medal
  • Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
  • Air Medal with 27 oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Commendation Medal
  • Vietnam Service Medal with six service stars
  • Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
  • Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

  • Second Lieutenant Jun 3, 1961
  • First Lieutenant May 15, 1963
  • Captain May 15, 1966
  • Major Mar 1, 1971
  • Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 1975
  • Colonel Jan 1, 1980
  • Brigadier General Oct 1, 1985
  • Major General Aug 1, 1988
  • Lieutenant General Oct 31, 1995
Headed West
Lieutenant General James Record started life as a farm boy, born in Clinton County, Indiana on September 6, 1938, the son of Edwin and Enid Record.
At an early age, he was excited by the thought of flying so he took lessons and got his pilot’s license while in college.
He continued chasing his dreams with this same tenacity his entire life.
A Distinguished Graduate from ROTC at Purdue University, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force in 1961.
During college, he was a leader on the Purdue AF ROTC Drill Team which won several national honors, including National Champions.
Today, he is a member of the Purdue AF ROTC Hall of Fame. General Record’s Air Force career followed suit. He moved through the ranks, excelling during each assignment. He was a command pilot who flew two separate tours of duty in Vietnam, one as a Forward Air Controller and one as an F-100 fighter pilot, flying 616 combat missions and over 1,100 combat hours. He piloted 11 different aircraft totaling over 6,000 flying hours in his 36 years of service. He commanded three fighter wings, an air division, and served as the first Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force Southwest Asia. Culminating this distinguished career, he commanded 12th Air Force and U.S. Southern Command Air Forces comprised of eight active duty wings, over 450 aircraft, 35,000 active duty and civilian personnel as well as 21,000 Reserve and National Guard forces with over 360 aircraft.
His military decorations include the Vietnam Service Medal with six service stars, 27 Air Medals, the Bronze Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster.
General Record retired from Air Force service in 1997. He then served a two year assignment as a Senior Executive for Hughes/Raytheon in Saudi Arabia.
Upon returning, he began his next career in an executive position with Raytheon Missile Systems in their business development division. He worked there until 2007 when he retired for the second time.
General Record died peacefully on December 22, 2009.
He is survived by his mother, Enid; his wife, Peggy; sons, James, John and Joe, as well as brother, Ray and sisters, Arlene Harshbarger and Barbara Wo
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