MAJOR GENERAL CLAUDE M. BOLTON, JR.
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
Major General Claude M. Bolton, Jr;, is the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisitions, Logistics, and
Technology).
The retired General entered the Air Force in 1969 as a student pilot and received his wings in 1970. He served in a
variety of positions during his career: squadron and wing safety officer, instructor pilot, wing standardization and
evaluation flight examiner, scheduler, test pilot, and acquisitions professional, and director of requirements for
Headquarters, Air Force Material Command. During the Vietnam War, he flew 232 combat missions – 40 over
North Vietnam. He was a test pilot for the F-4, F-111, and the F-16. He was also the first program manager for the
Advanced Tactical Fighter Technologies Program, which evolved in to the F-22 System Program Office. During his
tour at the Pentagon, he was the F-16 program element monitor and also saw duty in the office of Special Programs.
He was the Deputy Program Director for the B-2 System Program Office and the Program Director for the
Advanced Cruise Missile Program Office. Subsequently, he was the Inspector General for the Air Force Material
Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Prior to his assignment as the Director of Requirements, he was the
commandant of Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, VA, and special assistant to the Assistant
Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisitions at the Pentagon, Washington D.C. As a command pilot, Major General
Bolton accumulated over 2700 flight hours with over 30 different aircraft including: F-4 C/D/E, F-16 A/B, F-105
D/F, F-111 D/E/F, and FB-111.
EDUCATION:
1969 Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1974 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
1976 Masters Degree in Management, Troy State University—Troy, AL
1982 Air Command and Staff College
1982 Program Management Course, Defense Systems Management College
1986 Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
1991 Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with 16 Oak Leaf Clusters
Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Service Stars
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
EFFECTIVE PROMOTION DATES:
Second Lieutenant
May 31, 1969
First Lieutenant
November 30, 1970
Captain
May 30, 1970
Major
November 1, 1980
Lieutenant Colonel
March 1, 1984
Colonel
July 1, 1988
Brigadier General
August 1, 1993
Major General
March 20, 1998
Retired
January 1, 2002