Ray B. Sitton
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Ray Benjamin Sitton (born November 6, 1923) was an American lieutenant general, command pilot and navigator. He was Director of the Joint Staff
, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.
, where he graduated from Sonoraville High School as valedictorian of the class of 1941. He received a bachelor of science degree in military science from the University of Maryland in 1954, and a master's degree in international affairs from The George Washington University
in 1967.
He entered the Enlisted Reserve in August 1942 and was called to active duty in February 1943. Through the Army Air Corps aviation cadet program, he received his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant at Eagle Pass Army Air Field, Texas, in December 1943.
During World War II
, he served as a basic flying instructor at Independence Army Air Field, Kan., and in February 1945 he went to the Southwest Pacific area where he was a pilot, adjutant and aide-de-camp with XI Army Corps and the Far East Air Forces.
From October 1947 to January 1950, he served in a variety of positions with the Air Proving Ground, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., including adjutant and group personnel officer, and during this period attended the Air Tactical School. He next attended the University of Colorado. In September 1950 he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as chief of the Top Secret Branch in the Staff Message Division. He entered the Air Command and Staff School, Maxwell Air Force Base
, Ala., in January 1954.
Sitton was transferred to Korea
in August 1954 and assigned to the 5th Air Force where he served as air operations officer, chief of the Flight Section, and chief, Operations and Training Branch, 314th Air Division. He returned to the United States in August 1955, attended pilot aerial observer training at James Connally Air Force Base, Texas, and was awarded his navigator wings. He next was assigned to the B-47 pilot transition course at McConnell Air Force Base
, Kan.
In August 1956 he went to Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., where he held a variety of positions, including B-47 aircraft commander, squadron operations officer, squadron commander, chief of the 379th Bombardment Wing training division and assistant deputy commander for operations for the wing. In November 1959 he was assigned to the 4137th Strategic Wing at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., where he served as commander of the 342d Bombardment Squadron; commander of the organizational maintenance squadron; and chief of the Operations and Training Division; assistant deputy commander for operations; and deputy commander for operations for the 4137th Wing.
Sitton was assigned to Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., in June 1963, first as chief of the Operations and Training Branch, Office of the Inspector General, and in July 1965 was named deputy director of information. He entered the National War College in Washington, D.C., in August 1966 and graduated in July 1967.
Sitton then joined the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
, Washington, D.C., in the Operations Directorate, where he was assistant deputy director for operations for the National Military Command Center; then chief, Current Operations Branch; and lastly chief, Strategic Operations Division.
In June 1970 Sitton assumed duties as commander of the 17th Bombardment Wing, SAC, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and in May 1971 was named commander of the 19th Air Division, SAC, with headquarters at Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. He assumed duties as assistant deputy chief of staff for plans, Strategic Air Command, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., in January 1972; became deputy chief of staff for plans in March 1973; and assumed duties as deputy chief of staff for operations in September 1973.
In July 1974 Sitton was assigned as director for operations (J-3), Joint Staff, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C. He assumed his present duties in July 1976.
He has flown more than 8,500 hours in 40 different types of aircraft, and is authorized to wear the Master Missileman Badge. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon.
Director of the Joint Staff
The Director of the Joint Staff is a three-star officer who assists the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with the management of the Joint Staff, an organization composed of approximately equal numbers of officers contributed by the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, who have been...
, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.
Biography
Sitton was born in 1923, in Calhoun, GeorgiaCalhoun, Georgia
Calhoun is a city in Gordon County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,650. The city is the county seat of Gordon County.-Geography:Calhoun is located at , along the Oostanaula River....
, where he graduated from Sonoraville High School as valedictorian of the class of 1941. He received a bachelor of science degree in military science from the University of Maryland in 1954, and a master's degree in international affairs from The George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in 1967.
He entered the Enlisted Reserve in August 1942 and was called to active duty in February 1943. Through the Army Air Corps aviation cadet program, he received his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant at Eagle Pass Army Air Field, Texas, in December 1943.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served as a basic flying instructor at Independence Army Air Field, Kan., and in February 1945 he went to the Southwest Pacific area where he was a pilot, adjutant and aide-de-camp with XI Army Corps and the Far East Air Forces.
From October 1947 to January 1950, he served in a variety of positions with the Air Proving Ground, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., including adjutant and group personnel officer, and during this period attended the Air Tactical School. He next attended the University of Colorado. In September 1950 he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as chief of the Top Secret Branch in the Staff Message Division. He entered the Air Command and Staff School, Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
, Ala., in January 1954.
Sitton was transferred to Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
in August 1954 and assigned to the 5th Air Force where he served as air operations officer, chief of the Flight Section, and chief, Operations and Training Branch, 314th Air Division. He returned to the United States in August 1955, attended pilot aerial observer training at James Connally Air Force Base, Texas, and was awarded his navigator wings. He next was assigned to the B-47 pilot transition course at McConnell Air Force Base
McConnell Air Force Base
McConnell Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located four miles southeast of the central business district of Wichita, a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. The base was named in honor of Wichita brothers Fred and Thomas McConnell, both Air Force pilots and World War II...
, Kan.
In August 1956 he went to Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., where he held a variety of positions, including B-47 aircraft commander, squadron operations officer, squadron commander, chief of the 379th Bombardment Wing training division and assistant deputy commander for operations for the wing. In November 1959 he was assigned to the 4137th Strategic Wing at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., where he served as commander of the 342d Bombardment Squadron; commander of the organizational maintenance squadron; and chief of the Operations and Training Division; assistant deputy commander for operations; and deputy commander for operations for the 4137th Wing.
Sitton was assigned to Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., in June 1963, first as chief of the Operations and Training Branch, Office of the Inspector General, and in July 1965 was named deputy director of information. He entered the National War College in Washington, D.C., in August 1966 and graduated in July 1967.
Sitton then joined the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
, Washington, D.C., in the Operations Directorate, where he was assistant deputy director for operations for the National Military Command Center; then chief, Current Operations Branch; and lastly chief, Strategic Operations Division.
In June 1970 Sitton assumed duties as commander of the 17th Bombardment Wing, SAC, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and in May 1971 was named commander of the 19th Air Division, SAC, with headquarters at Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. He assumed duties as assistant deputy chief of staff for plans, Strategic Air Command, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., in January 1972; became deputy chief of staff for plans in March 1973; and assumed duties as deputy chief of staff for operations in September 1973.
In July 1974 Sitton was assigned as director for operations (J-3), Joint Staff, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C. He assumed his present duties in July 1976.
He has flown more than 8,500 hours in 40 different types of aircraft, and is authorized to wear the Master Missileman Badge. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon.