Retired effective Mar 5, 1999
Brigadier General Gerald W. "Ged" Wright serves the Oklahoma Air National Guard as the Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Oklahoma Air National Guard. He is directly responsible to the commander of the Oklahoma Air National Guard regarding combat readiness and operational effectiveness of units.
He was commissioned through the Reserve Officers Training Corps in June 1964. He graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base in January 1966. He was stationed at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, where he was an Instructor Pilot from October 1967 to February 1968 and an Academic Instructor from February 1968 to March 1970. He joined the Minnesota Air National Guard 109th Tactical Airlift Squadron in March 1970 as a transport pilot. He joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard 125th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tulsa Air National Guard Base in August 1973 as a fighter pilot flying the F-100 and then the A-7. He then served as Flight Commander in the 125th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 125th Tactical Fighter Squadron Assistant Operations Officer, 138th Fighter Group Chief of Standardization, Headquarters, Oklahoma Air National Guard Staff Officer and is currently assigned as the Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Oklahoma Air National Guard.
EDUCATION:
1960 Wagoner High School, Wagoner, Oklahoma
1964 Bachelor of Science Degree in Air Science, Oklahoma State University
1974 Squadron Officer School
1976 Air Command and Staff College
1977 Industrial College of the Armed Forces
1978 Juris Doctor Degree of Law, University of Tulsa
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. July 1964 - January 1966, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma
2. January 1966 - October 1967, Flight Training Instructor, Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma
3. October 1967 - February 1968, Instructor Pilot, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
4. February 1968 - March 1970, Academic Instructor, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
5. March 1970 - August 1973, Pilot, 109th Tactical Airlift Squadron (TAS), Minnesota Air National Guard
6. August 1973 - May 1974, Pilot, Tactical Fighter, 125th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Oklahoma Air National Guard
7. May 1974 - November 1984, Flight Commander, 125 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Oklahoma Air National Guard
8. November 1984 - September 1986, Assistant Operations Officer, Tactical Fighter Squadron, Oklahoma Air National Guard
9. September 1986 - May 1992, Chief Standardization, 138 Fighter Group, Oklahoma Air National Guard
10. May 1992 - April 1995, Operations Staff Officer, Headquarters, Oklahoma Air National Guard
11. April 1995 - March 1999, Commander, Headquarters, Oklahoma Air National Guard
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: 4, 782
Aircraft flown: F-16, A-7, F-100, C-130, C-124, C-97, H-43, T-33, T-38, T-37.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with 1 Device
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with 6 Devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 Devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:
General Wright is an attorney in private practice.
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
General Wright served as an Oklahoma Senator for sixteen years between 1982 and 1998.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant 24 May 64
First Lieutenant 24 May 67
Captain 4 August 69
Major 4 August 76
Lieutenant Colonel 4 August 83
Colonel 25 June 92
Brigadier General 19 September 96
(Current as of February 2001)