Harold Wade Todd

Major General Harold W. "Pete" Todd, a highly decorated command pilot and a pioneering graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, dedicated 30 years of his life to distinguished service in the United States Air Force. Beyond his military achievements, he was remembered for his keen intellect, communication skills, integrity, clear thinking, sense of humor, and compassionate nature.

Graduating with the inaugural class of the U.S. Air Force Academy, in June 1959, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. General Todd furthered his education by graduating from Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base in 1967 and the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1975.

General Todd completed flight training at Bartow Air Base, Florida, and Webb Air Force Base, Texas, earning his pilot wings in August 1960. He then underwent combat crew training at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, and Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas.

In June 1961, he was assigned as a B-47 pilot to the 307th Bombardment Wing at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska. During this period, his crew performed critical nuclear ground alert duties both at their home base and at overseas locations in Spain and England. Following the deactivation of his unit in March 1965, General Todd transferred to the 380th Bombardment Wing at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York.

In January 1966, he completed B-52 combat crew training and joined the 99th Bombardment Wing at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts. As a B-52 crew commander, General Todd participated in two significant wing deployments to the Western Pacific and bravely flew 156 combat missions in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.

General Todd's career progressed through a series of increasingly responsible leadership and staff positions. In January 1970, he was assigned to the 2nd Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, where he served successively as an air training staff officer, special projects officer, and aide to the 2nd Air Force commander.

In March 1971, General Todd transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) at Wiesbaden, Germany, serving as executive and aide to the vice commander in chief. By September 1971, he became aide and pilot for the dual-hatted USAFE commander in chief and commander, 4th Allied Tactical Air Force. The headquarters relocated to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in March 1973. During this pivotal period, he played a crucial role in an international study examining air reorganization within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) central region, authoring the study that ultimately led to the creation of Allied Air Forces Central Europe.

After graduating from the National War College in June 1975, General Todd was assigned as special assistant to the chief of staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. From November 1976 to May 1977, he served as chief of the Concept Development Division in the newly reorganized Directorate of Concepts, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations. He was subsequently assigned as chief of the Readiness and North Atlantic Treaty Organization Staff Group, Office of the Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. In July 1978, he was named executive assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

General Todd took command of the 25th Air Division at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, in September 1980. Returning to Europe in September 1982, he became chief of staff, 4th Allied Tactical Air Force, Heidelberg, Germany. He assumed his final active duty role in July 1985 as commandant of the Air War College and vice commander of Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

General Todd achieved the rank of Brigadier General on December 1, 1978, holding the distinction of being the first graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy to attain this rank. He was promoted to Major General on July 1, 1982. General Todd retired from the Air Force in June 1989, concluding 30 years of dedicated service.

In his semi-retirement, General Todd continued to contribute his expertise, consulting with the Swedish Air Force. He also served as President of the National Stroke Association, demonstrating his commitment to public service. Furthermore, he proudly served as President of the 307th Bomb Wing Association and remained an active member of the USAF Association of Graduates.

Major General Harold W. "Pete" Todd passed away peacefully at his home in Colorado Springs on February 23, 2013.