| Howell Marion Estes III | |
| Birth Date: | 16 December 1941 |
| Birth Place: | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Allegiance: | United States of America |
| Branch: | United States Air Force |
| Serviceyears: | 1965–1998 |
| Rank: | General |
| Commands: | North American Aerospace Defense Command United States Space Command Air Force Space Command 7th Air Force |
| Battles: | Vietnam War |
| Awards: | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit |
| Relations: | Howell M. Estes Jr. (father) |
General Howell M. Estes III (December 16, 1941 – March 18, 2024) served as commander in chief in the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the United States Space Command (USSC), and served as commander in the Air Force Space Command (AFSC), headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. As commander, the general was responsible for the air sovereignty of the United States and Canada, providing tactical warning and attack assessment, directing space control and support operations, directing satellite control, warning, space launch and ballistic missile operations missions.
Estes was on the board of directors DigitalGlobe from May 14, 2007; In February 2011 he became the chair of the board.[1]
On December 13, 2018, Maxar Technologies announced that "the Maxar Board of Directors has elected retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Howell M. Estes III as Chair, effective January 1, 2019."[1]
Estes was born on December 16, 1941.[2] He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1965. He has commanded both operational and maintenance squadrons, the Air Force's only stealth fighter unit, and an air division and numbered air force. Prior to his current position, he served as director for operations (J-3), the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He also co-authored "Strategic and Doctrinal Implications of Deep Attack," the concept of operations for the Defense of Central Europe. A command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours, he flew 169 combat missions as an F-4 pilot during the Vietnam War. During the Gulf War he served as deputy chief of staff for operations, Strategic Air Command. He retired on October 1, 1998, and died on March 18, 2024, at the age of 82.[3]
| Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters | ||
| Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster | ||
| Defense Superior Service Medal | ||
| Legion of Merit | ||
| Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster | ||
| Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters | ||
| Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters | ||
| Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters | ||
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device | ||
| Air Force Organizational Excellence Award | ||
| Combat Readiness Medal | ||
| National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star | ||
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | ||
| Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars | ||
| Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon | ||
| Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters | ||
| Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters | ||
| Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon | ||
| Air Force Training Ribbon | ||
| Order of National Security Merit (Republic of Korea), Gukseon Medal | ||
| Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award | ||
| Vietnam Campaign Medal |