Retired May 05, 2003
Major General Frederick H. Forster is the assistant adjutant general for the Tennessee Air National Guard. General Forster commands and insures readiness of Tennessee's three flying and three mission support units. The flying units consist of a C-130 Wing in Nashville, a C-141 Wing in Memphis and a KC-135 Wing in Knoxville.
The General entered the Air Force in September 1968 after receiving his commission through the ROTC at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. He served eight years on extended active duty in the U.S. Air Force where he was a T-38 instructor pilot, served on a joint staff as an operations plans officer at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, and as a KC-135 pilot and instructor pilot. He joined the Tennessee Air National Guard in October 1976. Following assignments as group plans officer and aircraft maintenance officer General Forster was assigned command of the 134th Air Refueling Group in December 1987, the Group later became a Wing. General Forster assumed his current position in December 1998.
1968 Bachelor degree in English Literature from The University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn.
1972 Master degree in Foundation of Education from Troy State University in Ala.
1973 Squadron Officers School.
1982 Air Command and Staff College.
1982 Army Command and General Staff College.
1985 Air War College.
1994 The Senior Seminar; U.S. Dept of State.
1. September 1968 - September 1969, student, undergraduate Pilot Training, Webb
Air Force Base Texas.
2. September 1969 - January 1970,student, Pilot Instructor Squadron, Tyndall Air
Force Base, Fla.
3. January 1970 - April 1970, Instructor Pilot, Craig Air Force Base, Ala.
4. April 1971 - August 1973, Academic Instructor/Instructor Pilot, Craig Air
Force Base, Ala.
5. August 1973 - January 1974, EB-66 Tac Electronic Warfare Training Course, Shaw
Air Force Base, S.C.
6. January 1974 - January 1975, NAF/DOD Air Operations Plans Officer, Thailand
7. January 1975 - May 1975, SAC Combat Crew Training Course, student, Castle Air
Force Base, Calif.
8. May 1975 - October 1976, Aircraft Commander, Grissom Air Force Base, Ind.
9. October 1976 - March 1977, Air Operations Officer, Tennessee Air National
Guard, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
10. March 1977 - October 1978, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Tennessee Air
National Guard, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
11. October 1978 - November 1980, Aircraft Systems Flight Evaluation Pilot,
Tennessee Air National Guard, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
12. November 1980 - March 1988, Deputy Commander, Maintenance, McGhee Tyson Air
National Guard Base, Tenn.
13. March 1988 - December 1990, Commander of 134AREFG, Tennessee Air National
Guard, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base Tenn.
14. December 1990 - May 1991, Commander 1713 AREFW(P), Dubai, UAE.
May 1991 - August 1993, Commander 134 AREFG, TN Air National Guard, McGhee Tyson
Air National Guard Base Tenn.
15. August 1993 - July 1994, student, The Senior Seminar, Washington D.C.
16. July 1994 - December 1998, Commander 134 Air Refueling Wing, Tennessee Air
National Guard, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base Tenn.
17. December 1998 - July 15, 2002, Chief of Staff, HQ Tennessee Air National
Guard, Nashville, Tenn.
18. July 15, 2002 to Present - Assistant Adjutant General, Tennessee Air
National Guard, Nashville, Tenn.
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 4500 hours
Aircraft Flown: T-42, T-37, T-38, EB-66, T-39, KC-135A, KC-135E.
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor with 7 devices
Combat Readiness Medal with 6 devices
National Defense Service Medal with 1 device
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 devices
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 6 devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal (SA)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (K)
Tennessee Distinguished Service Ribbon
Tennessee Commendation Medal
Tennessee War Service Ribbon
Tennessee Service Ribbon with Service Star and 3 devices
Tennessee Volunteer Ribbon
Tennessee Distinguished Unit Commendation
Tennessee Volunteer Retention and Recruiting Unit
Second Lieutenant Jun 4, 1968
First Lieutenant Mar 9, 1970
Captain Sep 9, 1971
Major 14 Sep, 1977
Lieutenant Colonel July 9, 1983
Colonel July 1, 1987
Brigadier General November 4, 1998
Major General July 15, 2002
(Current as of May 2003)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.