William H. Forster

William Hull "Bud" Forster Sr.[1] (born 24 June 1939)[2] is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army who served as military deputy to the U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development and Acquisition from 1992 until his retirement from active duty in 1995. He previously served as commanding general of the Army Operational Test and Evaluation Command from August 1991 to August 1992.[3]

William H. "Bud" Forster
Born (1939-06-24) 24 June 1939
Shelby, Mississippi
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1960–1995
RankLieutenant General
Commands heldU.S. Army Operational Test and Evaluation Command
10th Combat Aviation Battalion
173rd Assault Helicopter Company
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal (2)
Meritorious Service Medal (2)
Air Medal (16)

Early life and education

Born in Shelby, Mississippi, Forster graduated from University of Alabama in 1960 with a B.S. degree in chemistry. He was commissioned through the Army ROTC program and assigned to the 91st Division while attending graduate school. Forster earned an Ph.D. degree in nuclear chemistry from the University of California, Davis in 1965. His doctoral thesis was entitled Cross section ratios of isobars from spallation reactions under varying conditions. He is also a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and the Air War College.[1][2]

Military career

Forster served two combat tours in Vietnam, where he commanded the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company and an air defense artillery unit. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Star Medals and sixteen Air Medals.[2][4]

After graduating from the Naval Test Pilot School, Forster became the first Army officer selected as an astronaut candidate. Robert L. Stewart eventually became the first Army astronaut, but Forster received the NASA Award for Outstanding Service after his time at the Johnson Space Center.[4][5]

After commanding the 10th Combat Aviation Battalion, Forster took on a series of aviation administration assignments. He served as program manager for both the Kiowa and Apache helicopters. Forster was designated the first Program Executive Officer Aviation from 1987 to 1988.[2][4][5] He later served as Director of Army Aviation at the Pentagon from 1989 to 1990.[6]

Additional awards

Forster received the Secretary of Defense Superior Management Award for his work in support of the Army helicopter improvement program.[2] He was elected to the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences in 1992 while still serving as an American Army officer. Forster was designated a Technical Fellow of the American Helicopter Society in 1997. He was elected to the Army Aviation Association of America Hall of Fame in 2010.[4][5][7]

Personal

Forster is the son of William O. H. "Bill" Forster (11 October 1904 – 23 January 1994) and Amy Hull Forster (2 June 1910 – 30 December 1983). He has a brother and a sister.[8][9][10]

Forster was married to Belle Fair (Brown) Forster (4 February 1940 – 25 January 2021). They had two sons and two grandsons.[11]

After his first marriage ended in divorce on 31 January 1995,[12] Forster married Francine M. Forster.[13]

References
  1. Forster, William Hull (1965). "Dissertation: Cross section ratios of isobars from spallation reactions under varying conditions". University of California, Davis. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  2. "Lieutenant General William H. Forster". Department of Defense Appropriations for 1994: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Third Congress, First Session, Part 5. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1993. p. 7. ISBN 978-0160415708. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  3. Shrader, Charles H. (2009). History of Operations Research in the United States Army, Volume III: 1973–1995. Government Printing Office. p. 156. ISBN 978-0160872365. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  4. "LTG William H. Forster". Army Aviation Association of America. 2010. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  5. "Legendary Aviation Innovator to Deliver Mills Lecture at UA" (Press release). The University of Alabama. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  6. "Directors of Army Aviation" (PDF). Army Aviation. Vol. 66, no. 4–5. April–May 2017. pp. 74–75. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  7. "Award Recipients" (PDF). Vertical Flight Society. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  8. "William O. H. Forster". Find A Grave. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  9. "Obituaries". The Winston County Journal. Louisville, Mississippi. 3 January 1984. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  10. "Amy Hull Forster". Find A Grave. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  11. "Belle Fair Forster". Louisville, Mississippi: Porter Funeral Home. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  12. Virginia Divorce Records, 1918-2014. Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Department of Health.
  13. Davis, Catherine (14 February 2013). "Senior leaders' spouses tour USAARL". U.S. Army. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
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