Charles R. Holland

Last updated
Charles R. Holland
Holland cr.jpg
Born (1946-01-21) January 21, 1946 (age 77)
Elkins, West Virginia, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1968–2003
Rank General
Commands held United States Special Operations Command
Air Force Special Operations Command
Special Operations Command Pacific
1st Special Operations Wing
21st Tactical Airlift Squadron
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Gulf War
Awards Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross

Charles R. Holland (born January 21, 1946) is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the commander of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. As commander, he was responsible for all special operations forces across every branch in the U.S. Armed Forces. [1] Currently, Holland is the first and the only member of the U.S. Air Force to serve as commander of USSOCOM.

Contents

Military career

Holland entered the United States Air Force in 1968 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. His early commands over his career included a squadron and two wings. He flew more than 100 combat missions, including 79 in an AC-130 Gunship in Southeast Asia. He served as Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command, was Commander of the Special Operations Command, Pacific, commanded the Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Florida, and was the Vice Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. His final assignment was commanding USSOCOM at MacDill. He retired November 1, 2003. [2]

Education

Assignments

  1. August 1968 – August 1969, student, undergraduate pilot training, Reese AFB, Texas
  2. September 1969 – November 1969, student, initial C-130E pilot qualification training, Sewart AFB, Tennessee
  3. November 1969 – September 1972, C-130E pilot, 347th and 772nd tactical airlift squadrons, Dyess AFB, Texas
  4. October 1972 – January 1973, student, AC-130E combat crew training, Hurlburt Field, Florida
  5. January 1973 – January 1974, AC-130E/H aircraft commander, instructor pilot, and standardization and evaluation pilot, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand
  6. February 1974 – January 1976, Air Operations Staff Officer, Directorate of Airlift, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, West Germany
  7. January 1976 – April 1977, Joint Training Exercise Plans Officer, Military Airlift Center Europe, Ramstein AB, West Germany
  8. May 1977 – December 1978, astronautical engineering graduate student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
  9. January 1979 – May 1983, Chief, Space Shuttle Flight Operations Branch, later, Deputy Director for Policy Planning, later, Executive to the Commander, Space Division, Los Angeles Air Force Station, California
  10. June 1983 – August 1983, student, C-130E requalification course, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
  11. September 1983 – June 1985, Commander, 21st Tactical Airlift Squadron, Clark AB, Philippines
  12. July 1985 – June 1986, student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
  13. June 1986 – June 1987, Deputy Chief, Airlift and Training Division, Directorate of Operational Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  14. June 1987 – June 1988, Chief, Airlift and Training Division, Directorate of Strategic, Special Operations Forces and Airlift, Military Deputy for Acquisition, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  15. June 1988 – June 1991, Vice Commander, later, Commander, 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
  16. June 1991 – June 1993, Commander, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida
  17. June 1993 – June 1995, Deputy Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
  18. June 1995 – June 1997, Commander, Special Operations Command, Pacific at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii
  19. July 1997 – August 1999, Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida
  20. August 1999 – October 2000, Vice Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
  21. October 2000 – October 2003, Commander, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Florida

Flight Information

Awards and decorations

Personal decorations
Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg
Defense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Medal ribbon.svg
Air Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Unit awards
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with bronze oak leaf cluster
Valor device.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Organizational Excellence ribbon.svg
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Service awards
Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg Combat Readiness Medal
Campaign and service medals
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service star
Vietnam Service Ribbon.svg Vietnam Service Medal
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon.svg Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
U.S. Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon.svg
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svg
Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver oak leaf cluster and two bronze oak leaf clusters
USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon.svg Air Force Training Ribbon
Foreign awards
Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award
Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Other accoutrements
COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
United States Air Force Missile Badge.svg Basic Missile Maintenance Badge
United States Special Operations Command Insignia.svg United States Special Operations Command Badge

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions
InsigniaRankDate
US-O10 insignia.svg General December 1, 2000
US-O9 insignia.svg Lieutenant General  November 1, 1999
US-O8 insignia.svg Major General February 22, 1997
US-O7 insignia.svg Brigadier General May 20, 1993
US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel December 1, 1985
US-O5 insignia.svg Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 1982
US-O4 insignia.svg Major April 19, 1979
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain June 5, 1971
US-OF1A.svg First Lieutenant December 5, 1969
US-OF1B.svg Second Lieutenant June 5, 1968

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References

  1. ↑ United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services (2001). Nominations before the Senate Armed Services Committee, second session, 106th Congress: hearings before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixth Congress, second session, on nominations of Rudy de Leon; Douglas A. Dworkin; Bernard D. Rostker; Gregory R. Dahlberg; Madelyn R. Creedon; Adm. Vernon E. Clark; Gen. John A. Gordon; Lt. Gen. Tommy R. Franks; Lt. Gen. William F. Kernan; Donald Mancuso; Roger W. Kallock; James E. Baker; Lt. Gen. Peter Pace; Lt. Gen. Charles R. Holland; Maj. Gen. Robert B. Flowers; and Robert B. Pirie, Jr., February 8; March 21; April 11; May 16, 24; June 27; July 26; September 6; October 3, 19, 2000. Vol. 4. U.S. G.P.O. ISBN   9780160657146 . Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "General Charles R. Holland". official biography. United States Air Force. 2003. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved October 10, 2010.

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