(Deceased 25 Jan 26)
Major General Philip G.
Killey was the Adjutant General of the South Dakota National Guard. He was also the
Secretary of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for the State of South
Dakota. The adjutant general commands 4,500 South Dakota Air and Army National Guardsmen
and women with 950 full time federal and state employees. He was responsible for federal
and state missions, assignment of leaders, recruiting, training, equipping, mobilization,
facilities and public relations.
The general received his commission in 1963 through Officer Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He served a tour in Southeast Asia in 1967-1968 flying the F-4 with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. He left active duty in 1969 and joined the Air National Guard in 1970. He held various positions with the South Dakota Air National Guard before becoming adjutant general. He was recalled to active duty as director of the Air National Guard from 1988 until 1994. The general was the first Guardsman to serve as commander, 1st Air Force, Air Combat Command, and Continental United States North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida from 1994 until 1998.
1963 Bachelor of science degree in economics and mathematics, Monmouth College,
Monmouth, Ill.
1974 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1984 National Security Management Course
1. November 1963 - February 1965, student, pilot training, Reese Air Force Base,
Texas
2. August 1965 - May 1967, F-4 pilot, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
3. May 1967 - February 1968, combat fighter pilot, 555 th Tactical Fighter
Squadron, Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand
4. February 1968 - July 1969, F-4 instructor pilot, 68th Tactical Fighter
Squadron, George Air Force Base, Calif.
5. August 1970 - March 1973, squadron fighter pilot, 114th Tactical
Fighter Group, South Dakota Air National Guard, Sioux Falls, S.D.
6. March 1973 - October 1974, air technician flying training instructor, 114th
Tactical Fighter Group, South Dakota Air National Guard, Sioux Falls, S.D.
7. October 1974 - September 1978, group weapons tactics officer and chief of
standardization and evaluation, 114th Tactical Fighter Group, South Dakota Air
National Guard, Sioux Falls, S.D.
8. September 1978 - March 1983, deputy commander for operations, 114th
Tactical Fighter Group, South Dakota Air National Guard, Sioux Falls, S.D.
9. March 1983 - March 1987, commander, 114th Tactical Fighter Group, South
Dakota Air National Guard, Sioux Falls, S.D.
10. March 1987 - November 1988, adjutant general, South Dakota National Guard, Rapid
City, S.D.
11. November 1988 - January 1994, director, Air National Guard, Washington D.C.
12. January 1994 - January 1998, commander, 1st Air Force, Air Combat
Command, and Continental United States North American Aerospace Defense Command Region,
Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
13. May 1998 - Feb 2003, adjutant general, South Dakota National Guard, Rapid City,
S.D.
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 6,500
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-4, F-100, A-7, F-16 and C-21
Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with 12 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Vietnam Service Medal with service star
Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Short
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with seven oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
South Dakota Distinguished Service Award
South Dakota Distinguished Unit Award
South Dakota National Guard Service Award with two oak leaf clusters
Second Lieutenant Nov 5, 1963
First Lieutenant Nov 5, 1965
Captain May 5, 1967
Major Apr 1, 1974
Lieutenant Colonel Oct 6, 1978
Colonel Dec 22, 1983
Brigadier General Feb 2, 1988
Major General Apr 19, 1989
(Current as of March 2009)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.