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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AFA MOURNS THE PASSING OF GENERAL BERNARD A. SCHRIEVER
Contact: Ladd Everitt at (703) 247-5847 or
leveritt@afa.org
Arlington, VA, June 24, 2005—General Bernard A. Schriever, USAF (Ret.), a former
commander of Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) and the architect of the Air Force’s ballistic missile and military
space program, died on Monday, June 20, 2005, in Washington, D.C.
The Air Force Association (AFA) mourns the passing of a true gentleman and legend of
airpower. AFA Chairman of the Board Stephen P. (Pat) Condon issued the following statement: "General Schriever
was a legitimate Air Force icon. One of the truly amazing experiences that I had while I was on active duty was
to be on the receiving end of mentoring provided by General Schriever during the time that I was the commander of
the Arnold Engineering Development Center. His insights and views on issues that were of importance to our Air
Force and this nation were incredible. He was a brilliant visionary who continued to make significant contributions
to the United States well beyond his retirement from the Air Force. His impact will live on forever, but his
physical presence will be greatly missed."
Schriever was born in Bremen, Germany, and became a naturalized citizen in 1923. He
attended grade and high school at San Antonio, Texas, and graduated from Texas A&M in 1931 with a Bachelor of Science
degree. Commissioned in the Field Artillery, he began flight training at Randolph Field and earned his wings and
commission in the Air Corps in June 1933 at Kelly Field. Returning to duty in October 1938 after a stint as a pilot
with Northwest Airlines, he joined the 7th Bomb Group at Hamilton and a year later became a test pilot at Wright
Field.
Schriever took an advanced course in aeronautical engineering at Stanford University,
was promoted to captain in April 1942, and got his master’s degree in June as a newly promoted major. In January
1943, he moved to the Air Force Service Command in maintenance and engineering assignments, and as chief of staff,
became commanding officer of advanced headquarters for the Far East Air Service Command. Graduating from National
War College in June 1950, he returned to Headquarters Army Air Forces as assistant for evaluation, in development,
where he was promoted to brigadier general in June 1953.
As a strategic thinker and planner, he served as assistant to the commander of Air
Research and Development Command (ARDC) in June 1954. A month later he headed a small group of officers who went to
Los Angeles to organize and form what has since become the Air Force’s ballistic and systems divisions under AFSC.
The end product was ballistic missiles such as Thor, Atlas, Titan and Minuteman; as well as all the aerospace systems
which have been launched into orbit, including support for NASA in its Mercury man-in-space and other programs.
Schriever was promoted to two-star rank in December 1955. He left Los Angeles for
Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, in April 1959 as commander of ARDC, which became AFSC in April 1961, under a
reorganization initiated by him. He was promoted to lieutenant general on April 25, 1959, and to full general on
July 1, 1961.
He is the recipient of numerous military awards and decorations, including the Air
Force Association’s 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing him as “one of the most important officers in the
history of the United States Air Force.” Schriever is the only man to have had the honor of having an Air Force
base named for him while still living. He is survived by his wife; his three children, Brett, Dodie and Barbara;
and two step-children, Michelangelo and Angela Mia.
General Schriever’s funeral service will be held on July 12, 2005, at 9:45 a.m. in
Memorial Chapel at Fort Myer, Arlington, Virginia, with interment immediately following at Arlington National
Cemetery. A reception at Fort Myer Officer's Club will take place immediately after the services.
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The Air Force Association (AFA) is an independent, nonprofit, civilian organization
promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. AFA
has more than 230 chapters nationwide and overseas, and more than 130,000 members. Visit us on the Internet at
www.afa.org.
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