List of commanders-in-chief of the Strategic Air Command
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The Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC) was the most senior officer and head of the Strategic Air Command (SAC).
| Commander-in-Chief, United States Air Force Strategic Air Command | |
|---|---|
| |
| Department of Defense | |
| Style | CinC SAC |
| Inaugural holder | Gen. George C. Kenney |
| Formation | 21 March 1946 |
| Final holder | Gen. Lee Butler |
| Abolished | 31 May 1992 |
| Succession | Air Combat Command Strategic Command |
List of SAC Commanders-in-Chief
| Name | Photo | Term began | Term ended | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gen George Kenney |  | 21 March 1946 | 15 October 1948 | (1889–1977) Designated as Commanding General |
| 2 | Gen Curtis LeMay | .jpg) | 19 October 1948 | 30 June 1957 | (1906–1993)
|
| 3 | Gen Thomas S. Power |  | 1 July 1957 | 30 November 1964 | (1905–1970) |
| 4 | Gen John Dale Ryan | .jpg) | 1 December 1964 | 31 January 1967 | (1915–1983)
|
| 5 | Gen Joseph J. Nazzaro |  | 1 February 1967 | 31 July 1968 | (1913–1990)
|
| 6 | Gen Bruce K. Holloway |  | 1 August 1968 | 30 April 1972 | (1912–1999)
|
| 7 | Gen John C. Meyer |  | 1 May 1972 | 31 July 1974 | (1919–1975) |
| 8 | Gen Russell E. Dougherty |  | 1 August 1974 | 31 July 1977 | (1920–2007) |
| 9 | Gen Richard H. Ellis |  | 1 August 1977 | 31 July 1981 | (1919–1989)
|
| 10 | Gen Bennie L. Davis |  | 1 August 1981 | 31 July 1985 | (1928–2012) |
| 11 | Gen Larry D. Welch | .jpg) | 1 August 1985 | 22 June 1986 | (born 1934)
|
| 12 | Gen John T. Chain Jr. |  | 22 June 1986 | 24 January 1991 | (1934–2021) |
| 13 | Gen George Lee Butler |  | 25 January 1991 | 1 June 1992 | (born 1939)
|
Three out of the Thirteen Commanders-in-Chief of the Strategic Air Command later on served as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis LeMay, General John D. Ryan and General Larry D. Welch.
List of SAC Vice Commanders-in-Chief
| Vice Commander-in-Chief, United States Air Force Strategic Air Command | |
|---|---|
| |
| Inaugural holder | Maj Gen St. Clair Streett |
| Formation | 21 March 1946 |
| Final holder | Lt Gen Leo W. Smith II |
| Abolished | 31 May 1992 |
| Succession | Air Combat Command |
| Name | Term began | Term ended | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Maj Gen St. Clair Streett | 21 March 1946 | 9 January 1947 | (1893–1970) Designated as Deputy Commander |
| 2. | Maj Gen Clements McMullen | 10 January 1947 | 25 October 1948 | (1892–1959)[2] Designated as Deputy Commander |
| 3. | Maj Gen Thomas S. Power | 26 October 1948 | 14 April 1954 | (1905–1970) Designated as Deputy Commander (1948–52) Vice Commander (1952–54) |
| 4. | Lt Gen Francis H. Griswold | 3 May 1954 | 30 June 1961 | (1904–1989)[3] Designated as Vice Commander (1954–55) |
| 5. | Lt Gen John P. McConnell | 1 July 1961 | 30 September 1962 | (1908–1986) |
| 6. | Lt Gen Hunter Harris Jr. | 1 October 1962 | 31 July 1964 | (1909–1987) |
| 7. | Lt Gen John Dale Ryan | 1 August 1964 | 30 November 1964 | (1915–1983) |
| 8. | Lt Gen Joseph J. Nazzaro | 1 December 1964 | 31 January 1967 | (1913–1990) |
| 9. | Lt Gen Keith K. Compton | 1 February 1967 | 31 July 1969 | (1915–2004)[4] |
| 10. | Lt Gen Glen W. Martin | 1 August 1969 | 30 September 1973 | (1916–1994)[5][6] |
| 11. | Lt Gen James M. Keck | 1 October 1974 | 30 June 1977 | (1921–2018) |
| 12. | Lt Gen James E. Hill | 1 August 1977 | 5 December 1977 | (1921–1999) |
| 13. | Lt Gen Edgar S. Harris Jr. | 6 December 1977 | 27 June 1978 | (1925–2018) |
| 13. | Lt Gen Lloyd R. Leavitt Jr. | 28 June 1978 | 31 August 1981 | (1928–2016)[7] |
| 13. | Lt Gen George D. Miller | 1 September 1981 | 31 August 1984 | (born 1930)[8] |
| 13. | Lt Gen William J. Campbell | 31 August 1984 | 26 July 1985 | (1931–2017)[9] |
| 13. | Lt Gen Monroe W. Hatch Jr. | 27 July 1985 | 29 January 1987 | (born 1933) |
| 13. | Lt Gen Kenneth L. Peek Jr. | 30 January 1987 | 9 September 1988 | (born 1932)[10] |
| 13. | Lt Gen Donald O. Aldridge | 9 September 1988 | 30 May 1991 | (born 1932)[11] |
| 13. | Lt Gen Leo W. Smith II | 1 June 1991 | 1 June 1992 | (born 1936)[12] |