Robert Stephen Delligatti

MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT STEPHEN DELLIGATTI
U.S. Air Force Academy, Class of 1959, Cadet Squadron 01

Major General Robert Stephen Delligatti was a distinguished leader, a command pilot, and a pivotal figure during one of the most dramatic chapters in American military history. A member of the Air Force Academy’s historic first graduating class, General Delligatti’s career spanned the transition from the early Cold War to the sophisticated strategic operations of the 1990s.

EARLY LIFE AND JOURNEY TO USAFA
Born in Granttown, West Virginia, in 1933, Robert Delligatti’s path to the Academy was marked by a clear drive for service. He graduated from Kingwood High School in 1951 and attended Randolph-Macon Academy before entering Washington and Lee University. When the opportunity arose to join the newly established United States Air Force Academy, he was selected for the inaugural Class of 1959.

At the Academy, he was a member of Cadet Squadron 01, helping to forge the traditions and standards that would define the institution for decades. He graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree, ready to enter the cockpit during a height of global tension.

MILITARY CAREER AND OPERATIONS
After completing pilot training at Webb Air Force Base, Texas, in 1960, Delligatti became a cornerstone of the Strategic Air Command (SAC). He flew the B-47 Stratojet at Lockbourne AFB and later transitioned to the B-52 Stratofortress at Homestead AFB, Florida, where he served as an aircraft commander and instructor pilot.

In 1967, he became part of the initial cadre for the F-111 Aardvark and FB-111 programs at Nellis AFB, helping to operationalize the Air Force's premier long-range, all-weather strike aircraft.

THE FALL OF SAIGON
One of the most defining moments of his career occurred in 1974-1975. Serving as the Supervisor of Airlift for the Defense Attaché Office (DAO) at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam, Delligatti was responsible for the desperate and massive aerial evacuation of Saigon. Under immense pressure and the threat of enemy fire, he managed flight operations until the very end. On April 30, 1975, as the city fell, he was among the final group evacuated via helicopter to the USS Midway in the South China Sea. For his bravery and leadership during this period, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for valor.

LEADERSHIP AND LATER SERVICE
Following Vietnam, General Delligatti’s expertise in strategic programs and resource management led him to senior leadership roles. He returned to his roots in 1982, serving as the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Academy, where he applied his operational experience to the development of future officers.

His final assignments included serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans at Air Training Command and as the Chief of Staff for Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) during the closing years of the Cold War and the reorganization following the Gulf War.

PERSONAL LIFE AND LEGACY
General Delligatti was known not only for his tactical brilliance but also for his commitment to the "Air Force family." After retiring in 1994, he remained active in the military community, serving for 17 years on the Board of Trustees for the Air Force Aid Society, ensuring support for Airmen in financial distress.

He was a command pilot with more than 4,200 flying hours. General Delligatti passed away on October 7, 2006, leaving behind a legacy of courage, strategic foresight, and unwavering loyalty to the Class of 1959.

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SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS
Years Duty / Position Location
1955–1959 Cadet, Class of 1959 USAFA, CO
1959–1960 Student, Pilot Training Webb AFB, TX
1961–1964 Pilot / Aircraft Commander, B-47 Lockbourne AFB, OH
1964–1967 Aircraft Commander / Instructor Pilot, B-52 Homestead AFB, FL
1967–1971 F-111 / FB-111 Transition and Operational Pilot Nellis AFB, NV
1971–1973 Commander, FB-111A Central Flight Instructor School Plattsburgh AFB, NY
1973–1974 Student, Air Command and Staff College / MBA Auburn University, AL
1974–1975 Supervisor of Airlift, Defense Attaché Office Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam
1975–1979 Assistant Director of Operations Headquarters USAF, Washington, D.C.
1979–1980 Student, Air War College Maxwell AFB, AL
1980–1982 Chief of Strategic Programs Headquarters USAF, Washington, D.C.
1982–1985 Chief of Staff USAFA, CO
1987–1991 Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans Headquarters ATC, Randolph AFB, TX
1991–1994 Chief of Staff Headquarters USAFE, Ramstein AB, Germany