BRIGADIER GENERAL STEPHEN L. VONDERHEIDE
Retired July 13, 2003
Brigadier General Stephen L. Vonderheide is the assistant adjutant general who also serves as the commander of the Nevada Air National Guard, Carson City, Nev. As an assistant adjutant general for air, he represents the governor and the adjutant general of Nevada as the principal advisor on matters pertaining to the Nevada Air National Guard.
General Vonderheide enlisted in the Nevada Air National Guard in 1966 as an administrative operations specialist. In 1968, he was activated with the unit during the Pueblo Crisis and served an eighteen-month tour of duty in Reno, Kansas City, Missouri, and Japan. General Vonderheide was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1972. His flying career has included operations in the T-33, RF-101, RF-4C, C-131, C-12J and currently the C-130 aircraft. He was an instructor pilot in the F-4 Phantom' and a Functional Check Flight (FCF) pilot in the RF-4C and C-131 aircraft. In 1995, General Vonderheide set a world speed record in the RF-4C in the 15/25 kilometer course at a speed of 1,051.30 mph/1,692.05 Kmh. General Vonderheide deployed with the 152nd Reconnaissance Group during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-91. He flew several RF-4C intelligence gathering sorties along Iraq, Kuwaiti and Saudi borders during Desert Shield and later flew 25 combat missions into Iraq and Kuwait during Desert Storm. His 'Day 1' mission returned with the first reconnaissance photos of the war.
EDUCATION:
1974 Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and business administration, University of Nevada at Reno, Reno
1982, Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
1984 National Security Management Course
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. April 1972 - March 1973, undergraduate pilot training, 14th Student Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. March 1973 - December 1973, student, United States Air Force Tactical Reconnaissance Course, 189th Training Group, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.
3. December 1973 - January 1983, reconnaissance pilot, 192nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Reno, Nev.
4. January 1983 - September 1984, quality control officer in charge, 152nd Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Reno, Nev.
5. September 1984 - September 1987, reconnaissance pilot, 192nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Reno, Nev.
6. September 1987 - February 1992, RF-4C pilot, 192nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Reno, Nev.
7. February 1992 - November 1994, RF-4C pilot, 192d Reconnaissance Squadron, Reno, Nev.
8. November 1994 - November 1995, vice commander, 152nd Reconnaissance Group, Reno, Nev.
9. November 1995 - April 1997, vice commander, 152nd Airlift Wing, Reno, Nev.
10. April 1997 - January 2001, chief of staff, Headquarters, Nevada Air National Guard, Carson City, Nev.
11. January 2001 - present, assistant adjutant general, Headquarters, Nevada Air National Guard, Carson City, Nev.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command pilot
Flight Hours: More than 4,500
Aircraft flown: T-33, RF-101, RF-4C, C-131, C-12J and C-130
Pilot wings from Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with 4 devices
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor with 4 devices
Combat Readiness Medal with 6 devices
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
Air Reserve Meritorious Service Medal with 1 device
National Defense Service Medal with 1 device
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 devices
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with 6 devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with 1 device
Air Force Training Ribbon with 1 device
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Emirate of Kuwait)
Nevada Distinguished Service Medal
Nevada Humanitarian Service Medal
Governor's Outstanding Unit Award with 4 devices
Nevada Air National Guard Overseas Deployment Ribbon
Nevada Meritorious Service Ribbon with 1 device
Nevada National Guard Service Ribbon with 5 devices
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with 6 devices
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:
President/CEO - NATURENU Corporation
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant Apr 14, 1972
First Lieutenant Apr 14, 1975
Captain Apr 14, 1979
Major May 15, 1984
Lieutenant Colonel Mar 11, 1991
Colonel Dec 13, 1994
Brigadier General Mar 2, 1998
(Current as of May 2001)