UI Alumnus Thomas H. Neary To Receive Hall of Fame Award for Military Leadership
Thursday, March 1 2001
March 1, 2001^MOSCOW – Thomas H. Neary has completed a three-decade career with the United States Air Force marked by service in a variety of key command, planning and policy positions.^ Neary is a University of Idaho graduate who received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1968 and a Master of Science in 1969. He also was a member of the UI’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. ^Neary, a retired major general, is one of four recipients of the UI’s Hall of Fame Award for 2001. He will visit the UI campus May 17-19 during Spring Commencement festivities.^Created in 1962, the Hall of Fame recognizes UI graduates who have developed a nationally or internationally recognized reputation in their specialized fields.^ Neary continued his education in the military by attending Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College and the National War College. He also served as senior Air Force Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. ^ Neary also completed the program for senior executives in national and international security at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University. ^His leadership roles have included high-level command positions in both the United States and Europe. He has spent his career specializing in nuclear policy, planning and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) force development.^“General Neary’s exploits as a missile operations officer laid the framework which enabled him to be a key force in our nation’s Cold War victory,” said U.S. Air Force General Ralph E. Eberhart.^Neary was the commander of the 20th Air Force, Air Force Space Command and Commander of the Task Force 214, U.S. Strategic Command at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo. ^In these dual command roles, he was responsible for the nation’s ICBM force, including three operational wings with more than 9,500 personnel. Prior to this assignment, he served as the director of nuclear and counterproliferation, deputy chief of staff for air and space operations at the Pentagon. ^He has held positions at Headquarters Strategic Air Command and United Stated Strategic Command in Omaha, Neb., Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon and at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). While in Europe, he was deputy commander of operations for the 485th Tactical Missile Wing at Florennes Air Base, Belgium. He has commanded two ICBM wings.^ Neary has received the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal. ^ He is married to the former Joan Harrison of Moscow; they live in Ashburn, Va., with their son, John. The couple has three older children, Tim, Andrea and Ryan. Tim and Ryan are UI graduates while Andrea attended UI prior to graduating from Washington State University. ^ Contact: Jeff Olson, University Communications and Marketing, (208) 885-8934 or jolson@uidaho.edu ^^-30-^^le-3/1/01-ADM^
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