Robert H. Foglesong
General Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong (USAF, Ret.) (born July 13, 1945),[1] formerly of Williamson, West Virginia, is a former President of Mississippi State University. He served in the United States Air Force from April 1972 until retirement as general in February 2006.
Robert H. Foglesong | |
|---|---|
 General Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong | |
| Born | July 13, 1945 Williamson, West Virginia |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Years of service | 1972-2006 |
| Rank |  |
| Commands held | U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force |
| Battles/wars | none |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Sam Il Korean National Security Medal Cheon-Su Korean National Security Medal Medalla De Oro por Servicio Distinguido, El Salvador (Gold Medal for Distinguished Service) Mérito Aeronáutico, Uruguay (Aeronautical Merit) Mérito Aeronáutico, Bolivia Cruz de la Fuerza Aérea al "Mérito Aeronáutico", Colombia (Air Force Cross of Aeronautical Merit, Grand Cross class) Cruz de las Fuerzas Armadas, Honduras (Armed Forces Cross) Cruz de la Fuerza Aérea, Guatemala Cruz Peruana al Mérito Aeronáutico, clase Gran Cruz, Perú (Peruvian Cross of Aeronautical Merit, Great Cross category) La Medalla Legion al Mérito Confraternidad Aérea Interamericana, (System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces Legion of Merit) |
| Other work | President of Mississippi State University |
Education
Foglesong earned the degrees BSc, MSc and PhD at West Virginia University in chemical engineering in 1968, 1969 and 1971 respectively. He holds an honorary Doctorate in Strategic Intelligence, and is a Distinguished Alumnus of West Virginia University.[2] He was selected by the West Virginia Education Alliance as a Graduate of Distinction,[3] and was selected by the West Virginia Executive Magazine as the Patriot of the Year for 2005.[4]
Air Force career
Foglesong attained the rank of four-star general in the United States Air Force 5 November 2001, retiring 1 February 2006 from active duty after 33 years of service. His last post was as Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and of Allied Air Component Command Ramstein where the service's enlisted corps honored him with the Order of the Sword.[5] General Foglesong commanded six times during his Air Force service including flying and maintenance units, a Numbered Air Force, and a Major Command. During his final command, General Foglesong continued his established model of using multiple "Combat" programs throughout his command to focus on military discipline and service standards including facilities maintenance, physical readiness, and leadership and mentoring. Some Airmen chaffed under these "Combat" Programs while others saw merit and value in the renewed emphasis on pride, espirit, and mission. Shortly after his retirement, his successor led an effort to reshape these programs begun under Foglesong, dropping two programs and delegating responsibility for 10 of the programs to base and wing commanders.[6]
Awards and decorations
 |
US Air Force Command Pilot Badge |
 |
Basic Maintenance and Munitions Badge |
 |
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |
| Allied Air Command Badge |
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After retirement
Foglesong was President of Mississippi State University from 2006 to 31 March 2008. Foglesong was the second retired general to hold the office of president at the university; Confederate lieutenant general Stephen D. Lee was the first. Foglesong tackled a number of competing internal and external agendas that he saw as undermining the school's purpose of delivering a quality education to its students.[7] Under pressure from politicians, students and faculty,[8] he resigned in March 2008. During his tenure enrollment rose 6% from 16,206 [9] to 17,127 in 2008.[10] He also oversaw a significant change to the school's facilitites and grounds involving removal of longstanding traditional landscaping[11] including removal of daffodil bulbs which had been on the campus for decades.[12] Much of this landscaping was seen as destructive and shortsighted in nature by students and faculty.[13] Foglesong founded a scholarship program in West Virginia called the Appalachian Leadership and Educational Foundation in 2006. He helped to establish the Appalachian Leadership Honors Program at Mississippi State, which now goes by the name Montgomery Leadership Program in honor of former congressman Sonny Montgomery in 2006.[14][15] He has also served as a director of now defunct Massey Energy, a major coal company which closed after flagrant safety violations during his tenure.[16][17][18][19]
See also
References
- WVU Alumni | Academy of Distinguished Alumni
- Home Page
- Honor Awards Gala 2005 : Video Library : West Virginia Executive
- General McNabb inducted into AMC Order of the Sword, 9/7/2007
- Scott Schonauer, 'Combat' shifts: USAFE programs to be retooled, April 5, 2006, Stars and Stripes
- http://www.stripes.com/news/former-usafe-boss-quits-university-post-as-complaints-mount-1.76355
- MSU landscape involves constant maintenance, replacement, February 11, 2008
- http://www.picayuneitem.com/local/x2079276971/Removal-of-popular-yellow-flowers-at-MSU-upsetting-some/print
- http://www.alhp.msstate.edu/learn_more/
- http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/index.php?/topic/13965-the-foglesong-thread/
- Maher, Kris (December 6, 2011). "Feds Blame Owner of West Virginia Mine". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
- "US Labor Department's MSHA cites corporate culture as root cause of Upper Big Branch Mine disaster: Massey issued 369 citations and orders with $10.8 million in civil penalties" (Press release). Mine Safety and Health Administration. December 6, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
- "Alpha Natural Resources Inc. and Department of Justice Reach $209 Million Agreement Related to Upper Big Branch Mine Explosion" (Press release). US Dept. of Justice. December 6, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
External links
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John W. Handy |
Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force 2001 - 2003 |
Succeeded by T. Michael Moseley |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by J. Charles Lee |
President of Mississippi State University 2006-2008 |
Succeeded by Mark E. Keenum |