Thomas C. Waskow

Lieutenant General Thomas C. Waskow is a retired United States Air Force officer who last served as Commander, United States Forces Japan and Commander, 5th Air Force from November 2001 to April 2005. During that assignment, he was the senior U.S. military representative in Japan and Commander of U.S. Air Force units in Japan.


Thomas Calvert Waskow
Lieutenant General Thomas C. Waskow, USAF, c. 2001
Born(1947-11-24)November 24, 1947
Washington, DC, US[1]
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1970–2005
Rank Lieutenant general
Commands heldUnited States Forces Japan
5th Air Force
13th Air Force
42nd Air Base Wing
550th Tactical Fighter Squadron
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross with "V" Device (3)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (3)
Air Medal (13)
Army Commendation Medal
Alma materUnited States Air Force Academy (BS)
Central Michigan University (MS)
Spouse(s)Sheila Waskow

Waskow received his commission upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1970, and he served as a forward air controller and instructor pilot early in his career. During the Vietnam War, he was assigned as a forward air controller at Ban Me Thout and Tan Son Nhut, Vietnam, where he flew 282 combat missions over South Vietnam and Cambodia. Selected to fly the F-15 Eagle early in its operational deployment, he has flown all models and variants of the air-to-air F-15. He has held command at all levels—fighter squadron, wing and numbered air force. Prior to assuming his final position, he was director of air and space operations, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. On September 11, 2001, he was designated the Area Air Defense Commander for the Hawaii Air Defense Region and was responsible for the air sovereignty of the state of Hawaii.

Waskow is a command pilot with more than 4,700 flying hours, including 904 combat hours and more than 2,200 hours in the F-15 Eagle. In addition to significant combat experience in Vietnam, Waskow commanded the 42nd Air Base Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base.[1] Waskow contributed extensively to contingency operations Deny Flight and Silver Wake in the Balkans, Noble Eagle in Hawaii in 2001, and Unified Assistance in Japan in 2005.

Education

Military assignments

Effective dates of promotion

InsigniaRankDate of rank
Second lieutenantJune 3, 1970
First lieutenantDecember 3, 1971
CaptainDecember 3, 1973
MajorSeptember 1, 1979
Lieutenant colonelDecember 1, 1982
ColonelMay 1, 1988
Brigadier generalJuly 15, 1994
Major generalJuly 1, 1997
Lieutenant generalDecember 1, 2001

References

[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

  • Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force.
  1. Mastin, Frank (May 3, 1996). "General, wife sad to leave Maxwell post". The Montgomery Advertiser.
  2. "Thomas Waskow – Recipient -". valor.militarytimes.com.
  3. "Lt. GENERAL THOMAS C. WASKOW (RET.)". American Overseas Schools Historical Society.
  4. "Retiring Waskow to leave this fall". Stars and Stripes.
  5. "USFJ commander taxis toward retirement". Stars and Stripes.
  6. "Lt. Gen. Waskow Joins McHenry's Military Advisory Committee". Congressman Patrick McHenry. January 13, 2009.
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