William F. McKee

William Fulton McKee
General William Fulton McKee
Born	October 17, 1906 Chilhowie, Virginia, US
Died	February 28, 1987(1987-02-28) (aged 80) San Antonio, Texas, US
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1929–1964
Rank	General
Service number	0-17661/467A
Commands	Air Force Logistics Command
Battles / wars	World War II Cold War
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Other work	Federal Aviation Administration Administrator

William Fulton McKee (October 17, 1906 – February 28, 1987) was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC) from 1961 to 1962; and Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF) from 1962 to 1964. He later served as the Federal Aviation Administration Administrator from 1965 to 1968.

Military career

McKee was born at Chilhowie, Virginia, in 1906. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps of the United States Army June 13, 1929.

His first assignment upon graduation was with the 13th Coast Artillery at Fort Barrancas, Florida. He then went to Fort Randolph in the Panama Canal Zone where he served as a battery officer in the First Coast Artillery. After two years service at that station, he was transferred to the 63rd Coast Artillery at Fort MacArthur, California, where he served as battery commander, assistant adjutant of the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles, and later executive officer of the Civilian Conservation Corps in that area.

In September 1935, he became a student at the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and upon completion of the course the following June, was assigned to Fort Mills, Corregidor, Philippine Islands; as regimental adjutant, plan training and intelligence officer, and battery commander of the 63rd Coast Artillery.

Returning to the United States in October 1938, he was assigned to the Presidio of San Francisco, California, as an assistant to G-2, Ninth Corps Area.

The following October, he was again ordered to foreign duty - this time at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, where he became battery commander and later commanding officer of the 66th Coast Artillery, transferring with that organization to Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico. Later he became executive officer of the Caribbean Interceptor Command under Major General Follett Bradley.

In October 1941, he returned to the United States for assignment to the 71st Coast Artillery at Fort Story, Virginia, as a battalion commander and regimental adjutant of the First Battalion. He later performed the same duties when his division moved to the Naval Operating Base at Norfolk, Virginia.

In January 1942, he was assigned to Headquarters Army Air Forces and was later appointed chief of the Anti-Aircraft and Airdrome Defense Section and Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division. Shortly thereafter, he became executive officer for the Directorate of Air Defense.

In November 1943, he became deputy assistant chief of Air Staff for operations, commitments, and requirements, which corresponds roughly to the present Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations.

McKee as Major General

In January 1946, he was appointed chief of staff of Air Transport Command with headquarters at Washington. The following August he went to Europe as commanding general of the European Division, ATC, with station at Paris, France. In December 1946 he transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Europe at Wiesbaden, Germany, and the following month became commanding general of the Headquarters Command of USAFE at Wiesbaden.

Returning to the United States in August 1947, he was appointed assistant vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force on September 27, 1947.

He was assigned to Headquarters Air Materiel Command as vice commander on June 10, 1953.

On April 1, 1961, Air Materiel Command was redesignated Air Force Logistics Command.

On August 1, 1961, McKee became a four-star general and assumed the post of commander, Air Force Logistics Command.

On July 1, 1962, McKee moved to Washington and became vice chief of staff of the Air Force. McKee was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster. He was presented the first annual Distinguished Management Award of the Air Force Association on July 31, 1957. He retired from the Air Force on July 31, 1964.

McKee as administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration

Military awards and decorations

Among Rodríguez's decorations were the following:

Badge	Army Air Forces Aircrew Badge
1st Row	Army Distinguished Service Medal with 1 bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
2nd Row	Army Commendation Medal	American Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star	American Campaign Medal
3rd Row	European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal	Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal	World War II Victory Medal
4th Row	Army of Occupation Medal	National Defense Service Medal	Air Force Longevity Service Award with 1 silver and 2 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

Effective dates of promotion

Source:

Insignia	Rank	Date
	General	August 1, 1961
	Lieutenant general	August 31, 1957
	Major general	October 31, 1947
	Brigadier general	January 23, 1945
	Colonel	September 14, 1942
	Lieutenant colonel	February 1, 1942
	Major	October 10, 1941
	Captain	June 13, 1939
	First lieutenant	November 1, 1934
	Second lieutenant	June 13, 1929

Post-military career

After retiring from the military, McKee briefly served as the assistant administrator for management development at NASA, and in 1965 was chosen by President Johnson to head the Federal Aviation administration. After leaving the FAA, he was president of Schriever-McKee Associates (later Schriever & McKee, Inc.) in Arlington, Virginia from 1968 to 1987. He died on February 28, 1987, in San Antonio, Texas after a brief illness. His wife died in 1990, and both he and Gertrude were buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force