Charles Alvin Gabriel | |
|---|---|
 General Charles Alvin Gabriel in September 1984 | |
| Born | (1928-01-21)January 21, 1928 Lincolnton, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | September 4, 2003(2003-09-04) (aged 75) Arlington County,Virginia, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1950–1986 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force United States Air Forces in Europe 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing |
| Battles / wars | Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (5) Air Medal (15) Full list |
Charles Alvin Gabriel (January 21, 1928 – September 4, 2003) was the 11thChief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As chief of staff, Gabriel served in a dual capacity. He was a member of theJoint Chiefs of Staff which, as a body, acts as the principal military adviser to thepresident, theNational Security Council, and theSecretary of Defense. In his other capacity, he was responsible to theSecretary of the Air Force for managing the vast human and materiel resources of the world's most powerful aerospace force.
Gabriel was born inLincolnton, North Carolina, on January 21, 1928. Following graduation from high school, he attendedCatawba College,Salisbury, North Carolina, for two years before entering theUnited States Military Academy. He graduated from the academy in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in theUnited States Air Force. Gabriel earned a Master of Science degree in engineering management fromGeorge Washington University,Washington, D.C., in 1963. He graduated from the Command and Staff Course at theNaval War College,Newport, Rhode Island, in 1962; and theIndustrial College of the Armed Forces,Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1967.
After graduation from West Point, Gabriel entered pilot training atGoodfellow Air Force Base,Texas, and completed advanced training atCraig Air Force Base,Alabama, in December 1951. His first assignment was to South Korea, where he flew 100 combat missions inF-51 Mustangs andF-86 Sabres and was credited with shooting down twoMiG-15s.
From December 1952 to November 1955, Gabriel was assigned to the 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing,Landstuhl Air Base, Germany, as a pilot and later a squadron air operations officer. He then spent three years as an air officer commanding at theUnited States Air Force Academy,Colorado.
In July 1959, Gabriel transferred toMoody Air Force Base, Georgia, where he served as adjutant for the 3550th Pilot Training Group and commander of the Headquarters Squadron Section. Following graduation from the Naval War College in August 1962 and completion of his master's degree at George Washington University in August 1963, he was assigned as a staff officer in the Directorate of Plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. In August 1966 he entered the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Returning to Europe in August 1967, Gabriel served as executive officer to the chief of staff,Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe,Mons, Belgium. He returned to the United States for combat crew training in July 1970 and was subsequently assigned as commander of the432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing atUdon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, flying 152 combat missions inF-4 Phantom IIs. While wing commander he accepted orders from GeneralJohn D. Lavelle to falsify classified operations reports. General Lavelle was forced to retire because of these orders. He returned to the Air Staff in July 1972, as deputy for operational forces and deputy director of operations.
Gabriel served as deputy chief of staff for operations at HeadquartersTactical Air Command,Langley Air Force Base,Virginia, from February 1975 to August 1977. He then became deputy commander in chief,U.S. Forces Korea and deputy commander in chief,United Nations Command,Seoul, South Korea.
In April 1979, Gabriel returned to Air Force headquarters as deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and readiness. He served as commander in chief,United States Air Forces in Europe and commander ofAllied Air Forces Central Europe atRamstein Air Base, Germany, from July 1980 to June 1982.[1] Gabriel was promoted to general on August 1, 1980, and retired on July 1, 1986.
Gabriel died inArlington County, Virginia, ofAlzheimer's disease, on September 4, 2003.[2] He is buried atArlington National Cemetery.
 | US Air Force Command Pilot Badge |
 | Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge |
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gen.Lew Allen Jr. | Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force 1982–1986 | Succeeded by Gen.Larry D. Welch |
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| International | |
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| National | |
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