Paul W. Tibbets IV explained

Paul W. Tibbets IV
Birth Date:1966 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Montgomery, Alabama
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Air Force
Serviceyears:1989–2018
Rank:Brigadier General
Commands:509th Bomb Wing
Air Force Inspection Agency
393d Bomb Squadron
Battles:Operation Allied Force
War in Afghanistan
Awards:
Legion of Merit (4)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Relations:Paul Tibbets (grandfather)

Paul Warfield Tibbets IV (born 21 November 1966) is a former United States Air Force brigadier general. He is the grandson of Paul W. Tibbets Jr., the pilot of the aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945. He was the Deputy Director for Nuclear Operations in the Global Operations Directorate of the United States Strategic Command, where he was responsible for the nuclear mission of the nation's ballistic missile submarines, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and strategic bombers. During his career he participated in Operation Allied Force in the Balkans and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and was one of the few pilots qualified to fly all three of the USAF's strategic bombers: the Rockwell B-1 Lancer, Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. In June 2015, he assumed command of the 509th Bomb Wing. In July 2017, he became Deputy Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.

Military career

Paul Warfield Tibbets IV is the grandson of Brigadier General Paul W. Tibbets Jr., the pilot of the aircraft which dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945, the Enola Gay. He grew up in Montgomery, Alabama,[1] and was inspired to join the United States Air Force (USAF) not by his famous grandfather but by his father, Paul W. Tibbets III, a pharmacist and hospital administrator who served in the United States Army Reserve, retiring as a colonel. "When I was in 9th grade," he recalled "I became involved in youth service projects. It was a passion of mine to serve. My father said 'You seem to be very interested in serving – what do you want to do with your life?' I told him I was interested in serving, and he told me to look into something like the ROTC or service academies."[2]

Tibbets entered the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from which he graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Human Factors Engineering. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant, and was sent to Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, for undergraduate pilot training. He was then selected for training on the B-1 bomber at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and was posted to a B-1 squadron, the 37th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. "There was no favoritism when I was chosen for bombers," Tibbets recalled, "The Air Force can't afford to put someone in a job for which they're not qualified. I was told that it wasn't because of who I was, but because it was the best fit."[2]

From August to November 1995, Tibbets was trained as a T-38 pilot instructor at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and then served as a T-38 instructor with the 394th Combat Training Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. He attended the Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in 1996, and then qualified on the B-2 Spirit at Whiteman in 1997. In 1999, he flew combat missions over Yugoslavia. For his service in Operation Allied Force, Tibbets was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. His citation read:

Tibbets received a Master of Science degree in Human Factors Engineering from the University of Idaho in 2000, and was a non-resident student at the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama in 2001. He attended the United States College of Naval Command and Staff at Newport, Rhode Island, from April 2002 to June 2003, from which he obtained a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He returned to Whiteman in July 2003, where he served as a T-38 and B-2 flight examiner, director of operations of the 325th Bomb Squadron and then the 13th Bomb Squadron. He became director of staff of the 509th Bomb Wing there in June 2005, and in April 2006 assumed command of the 393d Bomb Squadron, a unit that had once formed part of the 509th Composite Group which his grandfather had commanded in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.[2]

From October 2007 to August 2009, Tibbets was stationed at NATO headquarters in Brussels. He then attended the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia in 2009, and the NATO Defense College in Rome in 2010. He was vice Commander of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in southwest Asia from June 2010 to July 2011, flying missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He was in charge of the Air Force Inspection Agency at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, from July 2011 to July 2013. He then became Deputy Director of Operations of the Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. There, he qualified on the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, making him one of the few pilots qualified to fly all three of the USAF's strategic bombers: the B-1, B-2 and B-52.[3] In February 2014, he became Deputy Director for Nuclear Operations at the United States Strategic Command, at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, where he was responsible for the nuclear mission of the nation's ballistic missile submarines, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and strategic bombers. On 5 June 2015, he assumed command of the 509th Bomb Wing.[4] In July 2017, he became Deputy Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.

Tibbets was denied promotion to major general, following an investigation into allegations of his misconduct during his command of the 509th Bomb Wing that included making inappropriate comments regarding women, failure to report suicide attempts under his watch, and inappropriate use of a military vehicle. Tibbets commenced terminal leave on 19 October 2018,[5] [6] and he retired on 1 December 2018.

Awards and decorations

Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Kosovo Campaign Medal with service star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with "N" Device and two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and oak leaf cluster
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Training Ribbon

Dates of rank

InsigniaRankDatesSource
Second Lieutenant31 May 1989
First Lieutenant31 May 1991
Captain31 May 1993
Major1 August 2000
Lieutenant Colonel1 April 2004
Colonel1 September 2008
Brigadier General12 February 2014[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: . The Plane That Would Bomb Iran . Robert D. Kaplan . Robert D. . Kaplan . 1 September 2007 . 9 June 2014 .
  2. Web site: Face of Defense: Grandson Carries on Grandfather's Service . Stefan . Bocchino . 9 June 2014 .
  3. Web site: Col. Paul Tibbets IV qualifies on B-52, continuing family's Air Force legacy . 21 November 2013 . Master Sergeant Greg . Steele . United States Air Force . 9 June 2014 .
  4. News: Grandson of Enola Gay Pilot Takes Command of B-2 Bomb Wing . Maria . Sudekum . . 5 June 2015 . 5 June 2015.
  5. News: Air Force general to retire after probe finds misconduct . Stars and Stripes . Erik . Slavin . Brian . Ferguson . 27 September 2018 . 6 December 2018.
  6. News: One-star general — and Enola Gay pilot's grandson — forced to retire after misconduct claims . Stephen . Losey . 27 September 2018 . 6 December 2018.
  7. Web site: Nominations Confirmed . . 9 June 2014 .