List of commanders-in-chief of the Strategic Air Command explained

Post:	Commander-in-Chief, United States Air Force Strategic Air Command
Flag:	SAC Shield.svg
Department:	Department of Defense
Style:	CinC SAC
Inaugural:	Gen. George C. Kenney
Formation:	21 March 1946
Last:	Gen. Lee Butler
Abolished:	31 May 1992
Succession:	Air Combat Command Strategic Command

The Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC) was the most senior officer and head of the Strategic Air Command (SAC).

List of SAC Commanders-in-Chief

	Name	Photo	Term began	Term ended	Notes
1			21 March 1946	15 October 1948	(1889–1977) Designated as Commanding General
2			19 October 1948	30 June 1957	(1906–1993) Designated as Commanding General (1948–1953) and Commander (1953–1957) Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (1957-1961) Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (1961-1965)
3			1 July 1957	30 November 1964	(1905–1970)
4			1 December 1964	31 January 1967	(1915–1983) Commanders-in-Chief of The Pacific Air Forces (1967-1968) Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (1968-1969) Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (1969-1973)
5			1 February 1967	31 July 1968	(1913–1990) Commanders-in-Chief of The Pacific Air Forces (1968-1971)
6			1 August 1968	30 April 1972	(1912–1999) Commander-in-Chief of The United States Air Forces in Europe 1965–1966. Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, 1966–1968.
7			1 May 1972	31 July 1974	(1919–1975) Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, 1969–1972.
8				1 August 1974	31 July 1977	(1920–2007)
9			1 August 1977	31 July 1981	(1919–1989) Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, 1973–1975. Commander-in-Chief of The United States Air Forces in Europe 1975–1977.
10			1 August 1981	31 July 1985	(1928–2012)
11			1 August 1985	22 June 1986	(born 1934) Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (1984-1985) Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (1986-1990)
12			22 June 1986	24 January 1991	(1934–2021)
13			25 January 1991	1 June 1992	(born 1939) Commander-in-Chief of The United States Strategic Command (USCINCSTRAT), 1992–1994.

^[1]

Three out of the Thirteen Commanders-in-Chief of the Strategic Air Command later on served as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis LeMay, General John D. Ryan and General Larry D. Welch.

List of SAC Vice Commanders-in-Chief

Post:	Vice Commander-in-Chief, United States Air Force Strategic Air Command
Flag:	SAC Shield.svg
Formation:	21 March 1946
Last:	Lt Gen Leo W. Smith II
Abolished:	31 May 1992
Succession:	Air Combat Command

	Name	Term began	Term ended	Notes
1.		21 March 1946	9 January 1947	(1893–1970) Designated as Deputy Commander
2.		10 January 1947	25 October 1948	(1892–1959)^[2] Designated as Deputy Commander
3.		26 October 1948	14 April 1954	(1905–1970) Designated as Deputy Commander (1948–52) Vice Commander (1952–54)
4.		3 May 1954	30 June 1961	(1904–1989)^[3] Designated as Vice Commander (1954–55)
5.		1 July 1961	30 September 1962	(1908–1986)
6.		1 October 1962	31 July 1964	(1909–1987)
7.		1 August 1964	30 November 1964	(1915–1983)
8.		1 December 1964	31 January 1967	(1913–1990)
9.		1 February 1967	31 July 1969	(1915–2004)^[4]
10.		1 August 1969	30 September 1973	(1916–1994)^[5] ^[6]
11.		1 October 1974	30 June 1977	(1921–2018)
12.		1 August 1977	5 December 1977	(1921–1999)
13.		6 December 1977	27 June 1978	(1925–2018)
13.		28 June 1978	31 August 1981	(1928–2016)^[7]
13.		1 September 1981	31 August 1984	(born 1930)^[8]
13.		31 August 1984	26 July 1985	(1931–2017)^[9]
13.		27 July 1985	29 January 1987	(born 1933)
13.		30 January 1987	9 September 1988	(born 1932)^[10]
13.		9 September 1988	30 May 1991	(born 1932)^[11]
13.		1 June 1991	1 June 1992	(born 1936)^[12]

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See also

• United States Strategic Air Command

Notes and References

1. Book: Headquarters Strategic Air Command Key Personnel, 1946–1992 (Commanders-in-Chief) . Command Historian's Office . . 2012-02-16.
2. Web site: Biographies : Major General Clements Mcmullen . Af.mil . 2014-06-25.
3. Web site: Biographies : Lieutenant General Francis H. Griswold . Af.mil . 2014-06-25.
4. Web site: Biographies : Lieutenant General Keith Karl Compton . Af.mil . 2014-06-25.
5. Web site: Biographies : Lieutenant General Glen W. Martin . Af.mil . 2014-06-25.
6. http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/elpaso/cemeteries/academp.txt
7. Web site: Biographies : Lieutenant General Lloyd R. Leavitt Jr . Af.mil . 2014-06-25.
8. Web site: Biographies : Lieutenant General George D. Miller . Af.mil . 2014-06-25.
9. Web site: Biographies : Lieutenant General William J. Campbell . Af.mil . 2014-06-25.
10. Web site: Biographies : Lieutenant General Kenneth L. Peek Jr . Af.mil . 2014-06-25.
11. Web site: Biographies : Lieutenant General Donald O. Aldridge . Af.mil . 2014-06-25.
12. Web site: Biographies : Lieutenant General Leo W. Smith II . Af.mil . 2014-06-25.
13. Book: Headquarters Strategic Air Command Key Personnel, 1946–1992 (Vice Commanders-in-Chief) . Command Historian's Office . . 2012-02-16.