Gen. Russell E. Dougherty, USAF
was enshrined in 1998
was enshrined in 1998
General Russell Elliott Dougherty had a distinguished 35-year military career, culminating as Commander in Chief of Strategic Air Command (SAC) and Director of Strategic Target Planning at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska from 1974-1977.
A native of Kentucky, Dougherty graduated from Western Kentucky University and the University of Louisville Law School. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and later earned honorary doctorates from the University of Akron, Westminster College, and was named an "Old Master" at Purdue University.
Dougherty began his service in the Kentucky National Guard's 123rd Cavalry before joining the FBI. He received his pilot wings in 1943 after entering the Army Air Corps at the outset of World War II. He flew B-17 Flying Fortresses and later served on a B-29 combat crew in the Pacific.
After the war, Dougherty transitioned to the newly formed U.S. Air Force, serving in operations, legal, intelligence and command roles. This included being the Air Force's trial attorney for procurement litigation. He attended National War College in 1959.
Dougherty had extensive experience in nuclear planning and joint operations. He helped plan SAC's 1957 "Operation Power Flite" non-stop around-the-world B-52 flight. As a staff officer, he was the planner for the 1964 hostage rescue in Stanleyville, Congo.
He held key positions at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. European Command headquarters, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. From 1972-1974, Dougherty was the four-star Chief of Staff to NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
His final position topped a career focused on strategic deterrence. As SAC's Commander in Chief from 1974-1977, Dougherty oversaw the command's nuclear arsenal and strategic bombers during the Cold War.
A native of Kentucky, Dougherty graduated from Western Kentucky University and the University of Louisville Law School. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and later earned honorary doctorates from the University of Akron, Westminster College, and was named an "Old Master" at Purdue University.
Dougherty began his service in the Kentucky National Guard's 123rd Cavalry before joining the FBI. He received his pilot wings in 1943 after entering the Army Air Corps at the outset of World War II. He flew B-17 Flying Fortresses and later served on a B-29 combat crew in the Pacific.
After the war, Dougherty transitioned to the newly formed U.S. Air Force, serving in operations, legal, intelligence and command roles. This included being the Air Force's trial attorney for procurement litigation. He attended National War College in 1959.
Dougherty had extensive experience in nuclear planning and joint operations. He helped plan SAC's 1957 "Operation Power Flite" non-stop around-the-world B-52 flight. As a staff officer, he was the planner for the 1964 hostage rescue in Stanleyville, Congo.
He held key positions at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. European Command headquarters, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. From 1972-1974, Dougherty was the four-star Chief of Staff to NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
His final position topped a career focused on strategic deterrence. As SAC's Commander in Chief from 1974-1977, Dougherty oversaw the command's nuclear arsenal and strategic bombers during the Cold War.