Joseph J. Nazzaro | |
|---|---|
 General Joseph J. Nazzaro | |
| Born | (1913-03-21)March 21, 1913[1] New York City, US[1] |
| Died | February 5, 1990(1990-02-05) (aged 76) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1936–1971 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands |
|
| Battles / wars | World War II Cold War |
| Awards | |
Joseph James Nazzaro (March 21, 1913 – February 5, 1990) was commander in chief ofPacific Air Forces with headquarters atHickam Air Force Base,Hawaii and commander in chief ofStrategic Air Command with headquarters atOffutt Air Force Base,Nebraska.
Nazzaro, son of Italian immigrants, was born in New York, New York in 1913. He grew up in Queens with brother John (Marine Colonel) and sisters Mary, Francis, and Rose. He attended high school in New York,Millard Preparatory School in Washington, D.C., and graduated from theUnited States Military Academy in 1936 with a commission as second lieutenant in the Infantry. After graduation from advanced flying school atKelly Field, Texas in October 1937, he was transferred to theU.S. Army Air Corps.
He then served in the Philippine Islands and from 1940 to 1942, Nazzaro held assignments with the7th Bombardment Group,Salt Lake City, Utah;39th Bombardment Group,Geiger Field, Washington, and commanded the302nd Bombardment Group,Tucson, Arizona.
Early in 1943, Nazzaro was named commander of the381st Bombardment Group,Pyote, Texas, and led the unit to England in May where it joined theEighth Air Force. In January 1944, he became deputy director of operations,U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe.In August 1944, Nazzaro returned to the United States and was assigned as deputy commander,316th Bombardment Wing,Colorado Springs, Colorado. The wing was moved toOkinawa in December 1945, at which time he assumed command.
In May 1946, he became chief of the Operations Division, Headquarters Strategic Air Command,Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. Following graduation from theAir Command and Staff School atMaxwell Field, Alabama, Nazzaro became an instructor at the school, a position he held until December 1948. He then returned to Washington, D.C., for duty in the War Plans Division, Directorate of Plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
In August 1952, Nazzaro moved toLake Charles Air Force Base, Louisiana to take command of the68th Bombardment Wing. A year later he was named commander of the38th Air Division,Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia.
In June 1955, Nazzaro was appointed commander of Strategic Air Command's15th Air Division in Morocco. He returned to the United States in July 1957 and was assigned to U.S. Air Force Headquarters as director of personnel planning.
In July 1959, Nazzaro was named deputy commander,Fifteenth Air Force,March Air Force Base, California, and in October 1962, he became commander of theEighth Air Force,Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts.
In December 1964, Nazzaro became vice commander in chief of Strategic Air Command, and in February 1967 following the appointment of GeneralJohn D. Ryan to be the next commander of Pacific Air Force, Nazzaro was appointedCommanders-in-Chief of The Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC) and was elevated into the rank ofFour-Star General. He assumed his duties as commander in chief of Strategic Air Command with headquarters atOffutt Air Force Base,Nebraska, on February 1, 1967.[3][4] In this capacity, General Nazzaro oversaw the United States primary Nuclear Deterrence and its Nuclear Triads, including Strategic Air Command's fleet ofStrategic Bombers Aircraft and theIntercontinental-Ballistic Missiles (ICBM). During his tenured as Commander of The Strategic Air Command General Nazzaro also introduce TheMissile Combat Competition which purpose was to train the Intercontinental-Ballistic Missile combat crews during wartime situation.[4] As a result of this Missile Combat Competition, many Strategic Air Command's crews which was tasked in guarding and operating Intercontinental-Ballistic Missile became more trained in how to operate the Intercontinental-Ballistic Missile during theFirst-Strike scenario and eventually the Missile Combat Competition became a yearly tradition within the Strategic Air Command.[4] The Strategic Air Command also received a new fleet of Strategic Bombers Aircraft, theGeneral Dynamics F-111 Aardvark a newsupersonic and medium-rangeinterdictor bomber aircraft during General Nazzaro tenured as Commander of The Strategic Air Command.[3]
In 1968 following the appointment of General John D. Ryan as the newUnited States Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, General Nazzaro was appointed to succeeded General John D. Ryan as the new Commanders-in-Chief of thePacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF).[5] He assumed his duties as commander in chief of Pacific Air Forces with headquarters atHickam Air Force Base,Hawaii, in August 1968.[5] In this capacity General Nazzaro oversaw all of the United States Air Forces operation within thePacific region, especially the one inSouth Vietnam under theSeventh Air Force. During his tenured as Commander of The Pacific Air Forces, General Nazzaro oversaw the last stage of Operation Rolling Thunder, a bombing campaign over North Vietnam during the Vietnam War which ended on November 2, 1968.[6]
General Joseph J. Nazzaro retired from the Air Force on August 1, 1971, after 35 years of active-duty within theUnited States Air Force and died of cancer at theTucson Medical Center near his home on February 5, 1990 at age 76. He was buried with military honors at theUnited States Air Force Academy Cemetery inColorado Springs, Colorado.[5][7]
He was a command pilot, combat observer and aircraft observer. His military decorations include theAir Force Distinguished Service Medal withoak leaf cluster,Silver Star,Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters,Distinguished Flying Cross and theAir Medal with oak leaf cluster.
Air Force Command Pilot Badge
Basic Missile Maintenance Badge
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Silver Star
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the United States Air Force
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by GeneralJohn D. Ryan | Commanders-in-Chief of The Strategic Air Command February 1, 1967 – July 31, 1968 | Succeeded by GeneralBruce K. Holloway |
| Preceded by GeneralJohn D. Ryan | Commanders-in-Chief of The Pacific Air Forces August 1, 1968 - August 1, 1971 | Succeeded by GeneralLucius D. Clay Jr. |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
