Alton D. Slay
Encyclopedia
General Alton Davis Slay, Sr. (born November 11, 1924) was a four star United States Air Force
general and former commander, Air Force Systems Command
, Andrews Air Force Base
, Maryland.
Slay is a native of Crystal Springs, Mississippi
. He was a command pilot with more than 8,000 flying hours, principally in single-engine and jet fighter aircraft, accumulated since his graduation from flying school at Craig Field
, Alabama, in 1944. He flew 181 combat missions over Southeast Asia in jet fighters. He is a graduate of the Navy Parachutist School and wears the Senior Air Force Parachutist Badge and the Senior Missileman Badge.
Slay is a 1965 graduate of George Washington University
at Washington, D.C., with a degree in mathematics; the Harvard University Advanced Management Program; and the Canadian National Defence College.
His assignments included deputy chief of staff, research and development, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., vice commander of the Air Training Command
, San Antonio, Texas; commander of the Lowry Technical Training Command, Denver; deputy chief of staff, operations, Seventh Air Force
, in Southeast Asia; director of operations, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
; deputy chief of staff, operations, Air Force Systems Command; commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center
, Edwards Air Force Base
, California; and assistant deputy chief of staff, plans and operations, U.S. Air Forces in Europe. He assumed command of Systems Command in March 1978, and was promoted to four star rank on April 1, 1978. Slay retired from the Air Force on January 31, 1981.
In 2005, Slay won four gold medals at the National Senior Games in cycling. As of 2007, at age 83, he was still competing in the Senior Games cycling events.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
general and former commander, Air Force Systems Command
Air Force Systems Command
Air Force Systems Command is a former United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland...
, Andrews Air Force Base
Andrews Air Force Base
Joint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....
, Maryland.
Slay is a native of Crystal Springs, Mississippi
Crystal Springs, Mississippi
Crystal Springs is a city in Copiah County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 5,873 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Crystal Springs is located at ....
. He was a command pilot with more than 8,000 flying hours, principally in single-engine and jet fighter aircraft, accumulated since his graduation from flying school at Craig Field
Craig Field
Craig Field is an Australian former professional rugby league player. Field played for South Sydney, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Balmain Tigers and Wests Tigers. His primary position was at halfback...
, Alabama, in 1944. He flew 181 combat missions over Southeast Asia in jet fighters. He is a graduate of the Navy Parachutist School and wears the Senior Air Force Parachutist Badge and the Senior Missileman Badge.
Slay is a 1965 graduate of George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
at Washington, D.C., with a degree in mathematics; the Harvard University Advanced Management Program; and the Canadian National Defence College.
His assignments included deputy chief of staff, research and development, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., vice commander of the Air Training Command
Air Training Command
Air Training Command is a former major command of the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. ATC came into being as a redesignation of the Army Air Forces Training Command on July 1, 1946...
, San Antonio, Texas; commander of the Lowry Technical Training Command, Denver; deputy chief of staff, operations, Seventh Air Force
Seventh Air Force
The Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
, in Southeast Asia; director of operations, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
The U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, MACV, , was the United States' unified command structure for all of its military forces in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.-History:...
; deputy chief of staff, operations, Air Force Systems Command; commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center
Air Force Flight Test Center
The Air Force Flight Test Center conducts research, development, test, and evaluation of aerospace systems from concept to deployment. It has test flown every aircraft in the U.S. Air Force's inventory since World War II...
, Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and due east of Rosamond.It is named in...
, California; and assistant deputy chief of staff, plans and operations, U.S. Air Forces in Europe. He assumed command of Systems Command in March 1978, and was promoted to four star rank on April 1, 1978. Slay retired from the Air Force on January 31, 1981.
In 2005, Slay won four gold medals at the National Senior Games in cycling. As of 2007, at age 83, he was still competing in the Senior Games cycling events.