RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
In the busyness of our daily activities, it's easy sometimes to take our freedoms for granted and to forget the dedication and sacrifices of those pioneering Airmen who came before us.
On April 4, the Air Force Manpower Agency here will take a moment to remember its heritage by honoring its first commander, the late Maj. Gen. Jack Posner, in a building memorialization ceremony at AFMA headquarters on E Street East.
The strong foundation the general laid in his military career is as solid as the foundation of the building that will soon bear the name, Posner Hall.
"The Air Force is a better organization today because of innovative pioneers like General Posner," said Lt. Gen. Richard Newton III, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services who will serve as host of the ceremony. "He left a legacy of excellence, not only in manpower and personnel, but as an air power hero and visionary. He was a pivotal player in shaping our Air Force, and we are privileged to have this opportunity to honor him and his family."
The 10 a.m. ceremony is open to the public and will include remarks from the general's son, Brig. Gen. John Posner, director of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century at Air Force headquarters, Washington, D.C.
"This is indeed a fabulous honor," said General Posner. "Growing up, I remember how happy and proud my father was of his Air Force service. He always had a passion for manpower and personnel work because he knew how critical it was to the overall mission."
The senior General Posner, often called the "father of centralized management engineering," established what was then the Air Force Management Engineering Agency at Randolph Air Force Base and served as its commander from November 1975 to December 1977. His efforts were pivotal in centralizing all manpower management engineering elements in one location, instead of at each major command, so Air Force-wide manpower studies could be performed.
Before he entered the manpower and personnel arena, however, the general made his mark in the cockpit. Soon after being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in June 1944, he flew 18 combat missions as a B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft commander in World War II. Many of those missions were among the longest and deepest sorties flown by the 8th Air Force in the European theater of operations. He earned the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters for his actions.
Later, in March 1946, General Posner left active duty, joined the Air Force Reserves and returned to New York City to work for an accounting firm. In August 1950, he was recalled to active duty, during the Korean War, and served as chief of Airman Assignments for Continental Air Command headquarters at Mitchell AFB, N.Y. He later served in Libya as an air operations officer and in Germany as chief of the Personnel Actions Division at Headquarters 12th Air Force.
From July 1964 to January 1966, he was chief of the Personnel Plans Division at Headquarters Air Force Systems Command headquarters at Andrews AFB, Md. He later served as the Department of Defense's representative to the President's Cabinet Committee on Federal Staff Retirement Systems and as director of Legislative Programs at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense. In August 1969, General Posner was sent to the Republic of Vietnam as senior U.S. Air Force personnel adviser to the Vietnamese Air Force.
While serving as AFMEA's commander, General Posner was also director of the Manpower and Organization Directorate at Air Force headquarters, which was part of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Resources at the Pentagon. General Posner retired as the vice commander of the Sacramento Air Logistics Center in 1978 after 35 years of military service.
General Posner passed away in July 2006, leaving a legacy of service that goes well beyond brick and mortar. He and Geraldine, his wife of more than 40 years who passed away in 1995, had five children - four of whom donned Air Force blue. The fifth married a former Air Force officer and manpower professional.
"He left a memorable impression on all of us," said General Posner. "As we've gotten older, we've all grown to appreciate our dad's extraordinary service more and more."
A special exhibit highlighting the late general's career will be on permanent display in AFMA's foyer.