OKLAHOMA SALUTE TO THE U.S. AIR FORCE AND VIETNAM ACE COL. CHUCK DEBELLEVUE

800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive,Oklahoma City OK 73105

08 September, 2022

Description

As the United States Air Force celebrates 75 years, Col. Chuck DeBellevue will mark his 50th year as America's leading Vietnam Ace. Join the Air and Space Forces Gerrity Chapter #215, the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, and the Oklahoma Defense Industry Association for an educational panel with Lt. Gen. David Deptula and Col. Chuck DeBellevue, with a defense and aerospace industry reception to follow. We welcome all active duty, reserve, and veteran military members, as well as the nation's defense and aerospace industry representatives. 3 pm - Registration Begins and Doors Open to the Museum for Event4 pm - Panel Discussion in the Chesapeake Event Center and Gallery5 pm - Hors d'oeuvre's and Cocktail Reception in the Devon Great Hall Colonel Charles Barbin DeBellevue, USAF, Retired Col. DeBellevue is a retired officer in the United States Air Force. In 1972, DeBellevue became one of only five Americans to achieve flying ace status during the Vietnam War, and the first as an Air Force weapon systems officer, an integral part of two-man aircrews with the emergence of air-to-air missiles as the primary weapons during aerial combat. He was credited with a total of six MiG kills, the most earned by any U.S. aviator during the Vietnam War, and is a recipient of the Air Force Cross. Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF, Retired David A. Deptula is the Dean of the Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Power Studies. He transitioned from the U.S. Air Force in 2010 at the rank of Lieutenant General after more than 34 years of service. Deptula was commissioned in 1974 as a distinguished graduate from The University of Virginia Air Force ROTC program, and remained to complete a master's degree in 1976. During his military career he took part in operations, planning, joint warfighting, major command, service headquarters and combatant command levels, and also served on two congressional commissions outlining America's future defense posture. Deptula has experience in combat and leadership in several major joint contingency operations. He was the principal attack planner for the Desert Storm coalition air campaign in 1991. He has twice been a Combined/Joint Task Force Commander – in 1998/1999 for the Operation Northern Watch no-fly zone where he flew 82 combat missions as a general officer, and for Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica. In 2001, he served as Director of the Combined Air Operations Center for Operation Enduring Freedom where he orchestrated air operations over Afghanistan in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001. In 2005, he was the Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC) for Operation Unified Assistance, the South Asia tsunami relief effort, and in 2006 he was the standing JFACC for Pacific Command. He has piloted more than 3,000 flying hours (400 in combat) including multiple fighter aircraft command assignments in the F-15.