Retired effective February 15, 1998
Major General Donald W.
Shepperd is the director, Air National Guard, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. As director,
he is responsible for formulating, developing, and coordinating all programs, policies,
and plans affecting the almost 117,000 Air Guard members in more than 1,300 units
throughout the United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin
Islands.
He graduated from the fourth class of the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1962. After receiving his wings, he was assigned to duty in West Germany; and South Vietnam. He joined the Arizona Air National Guard in August 1974 where he held positions including squadron commander; group deputy commander for operations and group vice commander. In January 1987, he transferred to the Massachusetts ANG as the air commander of the 102d Fighter Interceptor Wing. In July 1989, he was appointed as deputy director, Air National Guard, National Guard Bureau. He is a command pilot, having flown more than 5,000 hours; and flew 247 fighter combat missions in Southeast Asia.
1962 USAF Academy, Colorado
1986 Master's Degree, Troy State University
1986 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
1991 Harvard University, Program for Senior Executives in National and International
Security
1994 Seminar XXI Fellow (93/94) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1. September 1962 - October 1963, student, undergraduate pilot training, Williams Air
Force Base, Ariz.
2. October 1963 - July 1964, student, F-100 combat crew training, Luke Air Force Base,
Ariz.
3. July 1964 - October 1966, squadron pilot (F-100), 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Hahn
Air Base, Ger.
4. October 1966 - October 1967, air liaison officer, 24th Infantry Division, Augsburg,
Ger.
5. October 1967 - December 1967, tactical fighter pilot (F-100), 90th TFS, Bien Hoa Air
Base, Vietnam.
6. December 1967 - April 1968, tactical fighter pilot, (MISTY FAC), (F-100), 416th TFS,
Phu Cat Air Base, Vietnam.
7. April 1968 - October 1968, instructor pilot (F-100), 90th TFS, Bien Hoa Air Base,
Vietnam.
8. October 1968 - October 1969, instructor pilot (A-37), 4532nd TFS, England Air Force
Base, La.
9. May 1970 - August 1973, forward air controller (O-2), 103 Tactical Air Support
Squadron, Willow Grove Naval Air Station, Pa.
10. August 1974 - August 1978, F-100 instructor pilot, 152 Tactical Fighter Squadron,
Tucson IAP, Ariz.
11. August 1978 - March 1983, squadron commander (A-7), 152 Tactical Fighter Squadron
Tucson IAP, Ariz.
12. March 1983 - December 1984, deputy commander for operations (A-7), 162 Tactical
Fighter Group, Tucson IAP, Ariz.
13. December 1984 - August 1985, vice commander (A-7), 162 Tactical Fighter Group, Tucson
IAP, Ariz.
14. August 1985 - September 1986, student, Air War College and Research Fellow Center for
Aerospace Doctrine and Education (Cadre), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
15. September 1986 - November 1986, acting deputy chief, Operations and Plans Division,
NGB, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
16. November 1986 - January 1987, vice commander (A-7), 162 Tactical Fighter Group, Tucson
IAP, Ariz.
17. January 1987 - July 1989, air commander (F-15), Hq 102nd Fighter Interceptor Wing,
Otis ANG Base, Mass.
18. July 1989 - January 1994, deputy director, Air National Guard, Pentagon, Washington,
D.C.
19. January 1994 - January 1998, director, Air National Guard, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 5,000
Aircraft flown: T-33, T-37, T-38, A-37, A-7, O-2, F-100, F-106, F-15, C-21
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with three silver oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
He received the following awards: Commandant's Award, outstanding graduate in leadership, and Brigadier General Benjamin Castle Award, outstanding graduate in public policy studies, USAF Academy, 1962. He was selected as the first ANG research fellow and assigned to the Center for Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., 1985. He was elected to the Gamma Beta Phi academic honorary society, Troy State University, 1986. His book, "Fighter Aircrew Training in the Air National Guard; New Dimensions, New Challenges," received the first runner-up award in the Air Force-wide Colonel James F. Cannell Memorial Research Competition.
Second Lieutenant Jun 6, 1962
First Lieutenant Jun 6, 1965
Captain Jun 6, 1969
Major Jun 6, 1976
Lieutenant Colonel Jul 11, 1981
Colonel Dec 2, 1984
Brigadier General Aug 1, 1989
Major General Jan 28, 1994
(Current as of February 2001)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.