Michael A. Nelson (October 8, 1937 – October 8, 2024) was a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force (USAF). He flew 100 missions over North Vietnam, collected 3500+ hours in fighter aircraft, and held command five times, including over the 9th Air Force and Operation Southern Watch. He was the 20th Deputy Chief of Staff of Plans and Operations.
After his military career, he was the president of the Air Force Historical Foundation and The Retired Officer's Association (now called the Military Officers Association of America, a change he ushered in).
Early life and education Nelson was born in East Los Angeles, California, on October 8, 1937. He moved to San Antonio, Texas, and graduated from Alamo Heights Senior High School in 1955.
Nelson earned his bachelor's degree in international relations in 1959 from Stanford University. He was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. He earned a master's degree in comparative politics from the University of Arizona in 1969. He earned another master's degree from the National War College in 1976. He was also educated at the Air Command and Staff College and in multiple fighter jets.
Career Nelson was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in June 1959.
As a fighter pilot, he flew 100 combat missions in the F-105 over North Vietnam as a part of Operation Rolling Thunder. He was one of the Wild Weasels, which meant his aircraft was fitted with anti-radiation missiles and tasked with suppression of enemy air defenses. He also collected over 3500+ hours in the various aircraft he flew: the F-100, F-105, A-7, F-4, F-15, and F-16.
He held command five times at five different locations across his career and worked in the Pentagon multiple times, including as the Deputy Chief of Staff of Plans and Operations.
As part of being the commander of the 9th Air Force and CENTAF, he also oversaw Operation Southern Watch. Operation Southern Watch monitored southern Iraq.
He retired in August 1994. In retirement, he became the president of The Retired Officers Association (TROA) and served from 1995 to 2002. He worked with Congress to increase active duty pay raises, repeal dual-compensation restrictions and the REDUX retirement system, and enact TRICARE Senior Pharmacy and TRICARE For Life. As well as change the name of TROA to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Nelson helped redesign The Retired Officer Magazine, launch its website, begin hosting career fairs, and formed the Member Service Center.
Personal life and death Nelson married Barbie Wigdale in 1962 and had four children with her. They remained married until her death in 2022.
Nelson died in Virginia on October 8, 2024, at the age of 87.
Awards Source: Defense Superior Service MedalLegion of Merit with bronze oak leaf clusterDistinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf clusterDistinguished Service MedalBronze Star MedalMeritorious Service MedalAir Medal with 10 oak leaf clustersAir Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Assignments +Assignments Over CareertimetitleassignmentstationlocationJune 1959 – September 1960pilot training studentLaredo AFBLaredo, TexasSeptember 1960 – September 1961F-100 studentLuke AFBMaricopa County, ArizonaSeptember 1961 – August 1965F-100 pilot493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 48th Tactical Fighter WingRAF Lakenheath Lakenheath, EnglandAugust 1965 – July 1967F-100 instructor pilot4515th Combat Crew Training SquadronLuke AFBMaricopa County, ArizonaJuly 1967 – July 1968member, Anti-Surface-to-Air Missile Combat Assistance TeamTactical Air Warfare CenterTakhli Royal Thai AFBThailandF-105 pilot333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter WingJuly 1968 – October 1969Master's degree studentUniversity of ArizonaTucson, ArizonaOctober 1969 – June 1971Operations Plan Adviser7th Air ForceSeoul, South KoreaJune 1971 – May 1972studentAir Command and Staff CollegeMaxwell AFBMontgomery, AlabamaJune 1972 – June 1975A-7 instructor pilot355th Tactical Fighter WingDavis-Monthan AFBTucson, ArizonaChief of Wing Scheduling Operations Officer358th Tactical Fighter SquadronCommanderJune 1975 – August 1976StudentNational War CollegeFort Lesley J. McNairWashington, DCAugust 1976 – April 1979Chief of Europe-NATO division, Directorate of PlansUS Air Force HeadquartersPentagonArlington, VirginiaAir Force planner, Deputy Directorate for Joint and National Security MattersApril 1979 – March 1981Commander21st Tactical Fighter WingElmendorf AFBAnchorage, AlaskaMarch 1981 – June 1983Director of OperationsHeadquarters, US Pacific CommandCamp HM SmithOahu, HawaiiJune 1983 – July 1984Commander313th Air DivisionKadena Air BaseOkinawa, JapanJuly 1984 – June 1985Commander13th Air Force, Pacific Air ForcesClark Air BaseLuzon, PhilippinesJune 1985 – June 1986Deputy, Inspector GeneralUS Air Force HeadquartersPentagonArlington, VirginiaJune 1986 – July 1987Chief of StaffUS Air Forces in EuropeRamstein ABRhineland-Palatinate, GermanyJuly 1987 – June 1989Assistant, Chief of Staff for OperationsSupreme Headquarters Allied Powers EuropeMons, BelgiumJune 1989 – January 1991CommanderSheppard Technical Training CenterSheppard AFBWichita Falls, TexasJanuary 1991 – June 1992Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and OperationsUS Air Force HeadquartersPentagonArlington, VirginiaJune 1992 – 1994Commander9th Air Force Shaw AFBSumter, South CarolinaOperation Southern WatchUS Central Air Forces (CENTAF)
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