Major General Earl Peck - USAF (Retired) - Clearwater, FL
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Summary of Education and Training Accomplishments:
Maj Gen Peck holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from George Washington University; a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Texas where he was Phi Beta Kappa (highest university graduating honors). Also, Maj Gen Peck was a distinguished graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Summary of the Nominee's Professional or Employment History: Maj Gen Peck had a distinguished military career that began in 1948 and lasted more than 36 years. He served as a Command Pilot logging more than 7,000 flight hours in multiple aircraft to include fighters, bombers, tankers, and trainers. Impressive is through his various positions held and exemplary performance Maj Gen Peck achieved a rank achieved by less than .5% of military servicemen - -Major General. His numerous decorations include: Defense and Air Force Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit (4 awards), the Bronze Star Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign starts, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint and Air Force Commendation Medals, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and many others. |
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Key leadership positions held by Maj Gen Peck while serving in the Air Force include but are not limited to: Chief of Staff - Strategic Air Command; Director, Intelligence and Space Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense; Deputy Commander, Sixth Allied Tactical Air Force, Izmir, Turkey; Chief, Special Air Operations, Vietnam; and numerous command, pilot, and squadron staff level key leadership positions.
As an accomplished pilot, Maj Gen Peck served as the instructor pilot for many aircraft joining the Air Force fleet. These included fighter aircraft: F-80, F-4, F-lll and F-15; bomber aircraft: B-25, B-47, and B-52; trainer and tanker aircraft: T-6, T- 28, T-39, C-47, C-21, KC-135, and EC 1-35.
Summary of Nominee’s Advocacy on Behalf of Veterans:
Major General Peck has been a staunch proponent/advocate for veterans while on active duty and after his retirement in 1985. Since retiring from active service, Maj Gen Peck has advocated for the rights, pay, and benefits of veterans by serving actively and holding position in organizations and associations such as the Air Force Association, the Order of Daedalians, and the Military Officers’ Association of America (MOAA) where he served as both Chapter and State officer. Of note is that Chairman for the national convention of The Order of Daedalians in 2000 and twice chaired the State Convention for MOAA, all being monumental undertakings. General Peck also held active memberships in veteran service organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans. To maintain that link to aviation veterans, Maj Gen Peck also maintained an active affiliation with the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society. Again, these entities allowed Maj Gen (Ret.) Peck to use his stature and influence to promote veterans issues and causes.
Summary of Nominee’s Civic Activities and Contributions:
General Peck served as the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs from 1989 to 1996. Serving in this capacity under two Governors, Maj Gen Peck was the chief advocate for Florida’s then 1.7 million veterans who called Florida home. Advocating for veterans at both the State and Federal level, he sought to improve veterans’ quality of life through a variety of projects and legislative successes. These accomplishments ranged from the construction of State Veterans’ Nursing Home to tax reductions to veteran employment concessions.
Following his service to the State of Florida, he has served as the Director or Chairman of several not-for-profit Boards and spearheaded major conventions for The Retired Officers’ Association (later renamed the Military Officers Association of America) and the Order of Daedalians. In 2000, Maj Gen Peck served on the Review Commission for the City of St. Petersburg and was elected to the city’s Senior Hall of Fame in 2003 and later presented the Key to the City by then Mayor Rick Baker.
List Any Awards or Honors:
Military Awards and Decorations:
Civilian Awards, Decorations, and Honors:
Narrative:
I have personally known Maj Gen Peck for three years, but his stellar reputation, distinguished military career, and service to our country, the State of Florida, and Pinellas County reflect a life-long history of service, advocacy and support to Florida’s veterans, active duty servicemen/women, and their families. As a pivotal leader during a challenging time in the history of our country, Maj Gen Pecks leadership at the help of Florida’s Veterans Affairs Agency, he served as the stabilizing force for the Agency, ensuring the Agency was sized and resourced appropriately to meet the challenges of today and long into the future. Of historical importance is that Gen Peck served as the first (founding) Executive Director of FDVA, and in that capacity he secured State and Federal funding for the first
Veterans' Nursing Home (Daytona Beach) in Florida. A point of interest is that his professionalism shined through regardless of which political part led the State of Florida. Maj Gen Peck was appointed by then Governor Bob Martinez (Republican) and retained by Lawton Childs (Democrat)!
Even today Maj Gen Peck has remained connected to veteran related activities. On a personal note, Maj Gen Peck has even donned his uniform to serve as an honor guard member to pay tribute to fallen members of the St. Petersburg Area Chapter, MOAA. Important is the superb leadership and service example he set resonated with his children and as such, all six of his children have served or are still serving in the United States Armed Forces. His influence has also let to countless other young adults committing to serve in the Armed Forces.
Maj Gen Peck is a known commodity throughout Florida, and has left an indelible mark on our armed services, particularly the Air Force. He is a tireless worker, who has ensured, during his tenure that Florida's veterans received the utmost access to benefits and services earned as a product of their service to our great country. I wholeheartedly and strongly endorse Maj Gen Peck for inclusion in the 2015 inductee class of the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame.
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
MAJOR GENERAL EARL G. PECK
Retired April 01, 1985
Major General Earl G. Peck is director for intelligence and space policy in the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Washington, D.C.
General Peck was born in 1928, in Jersey City, N.J. He attended Rutgers University from 1945 to 1947. The general earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science, with highest honors, from the University of Texas, Austin, in 1958, and was selected for Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha membership. In 1968 General Peck was a distinguished graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., and concurrently earned a master of science degree in business administration from The George Washington University, also in Washington.
In August 1948 General Peck enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He later entered the aviation cadet program and, upon completing flight training in June 1950, was awarded pilot wings and received a regular commission as a distinguished graduate. He then transferred to Germany where he served as a jet fighter pilot, flying more than 1,200 hours in F-80s and F-84s with the 23rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron.
General Peck returned to the United States in October 1953 and was assigned to Webb Air Force Base, Texas, as a jet pilot instructor and instrument flight instructor in T-33s and T-28s. In September 1956 he entered the University of Texas under the Air Force Institute of Technology program. After graduation in July 1958, General Peck served for the next two years as a B-47 pilot and aircraft commander at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., and Pease Air Force Base, N.H. In September 1961 he was assigned as a B-52 pilot and later aircraft commander and instructor pilot at Homestead Air Force Base, Fla.
He began a four-year assignment in December 1963 with the Directorate of Personnel at Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. From August 1967 to September 1968, he was a student at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Following graduation General Peck was assigned to MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., for F-4 pilot training.
In May 1969 General Peck transferred to the Republic of Vietnam, as chief of special air operations at Headquarters Military Assistance Command Vietnam in Saigon. During this tour of duty he earned the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. He returned to Offutt Air Force Base in June 1970 as vice commander and later commander of the 3902nd Air Base Wing. The general then joined the Squadron Officer School staff at the Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in August 1972, and became commandant in January 1973.
He transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in March 1974 as chief of the Office of Air Force History. General Peck remained there until July 1975 when he returned to SAC headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base as the deputy chief of staff for personnel until April 1977; deputy chief of staff for operations until June 1978; and the command's chiefof staff until August 1980.
General Peck was then assigned as deputy commander of the 6th Allied Tactical Air Force, with headquarters at Izmir, Turkey. The command is a component of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and provides full-time air defense of Turkey, and would counter aggression by conducting air operations in support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization objectives. He assumed his present duties in October 1983.
The general is a command pilot with more than 6,500 accident-free flying hours in fighters, bombers, tankers and trainers. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal.
He was promoted to major general Jan. 18, 1977, with date of rank Nov. 1, 1973. General Peck’s hometown is Metuchen, N.J.
Biography
MajGen EARL G. PECK, USAF(Ret)
MajGen Earl G. Peck entered military service in 1948 and served more than thirty-six years. He is a Command Pilot with more than 7,000 hours in fighters, bombers, tankers, and trainers. Decorations include the Defense and Air Force Distinguished Service Medals, Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and many others.
Among positions he held in the Air Force were Chief of Staff, Strategic Air Command; Director Intelligence and Space Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense; Deputy Commander, Sixth Allied Tactical Air Force, Izmir, Turkey; Chief, Special Air Operations, Vietnam; and others as a squadron pilot and staff officer.
Aircraft he flew included the F-80, F-84, F-4, F-l 11, and F-l 5; the B-25, B- 47, and B-52; the T-6, T-28, T-33, and T-39; and the C-47, C-21, KC-135, and EC-135.
General Peck has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from George Washington University; a Bachelors Degree with Highest Honors from the University of Texas where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa; and is a Distinguished Graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Since his retirement from the Air Force in 1985, he has been active in the Air Force Association, the Order of Daedalians, and the Military Officers’ Association of America as a Chapter and State officer. He also taught graduate-level courses for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Other memberships include the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society.
General Peck served two Governors as the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs from 1989 until 1996. There he was the chief advocate for Florida’s 1.7 million veterans at the State and Federal level and improved their quality of life through a variety of projects and legislative successes.
Since then he has served as Director or Chairman for several not-for-profit Boards and spear-headed major conventions for the Retired Officers’ Association and the Order of Daedalians, In 2000 he served on the Charter Review Commission for the City of St. Petersburg and was elected to the City’s Senior Hall of Fame in 2003. In June of 2003 General Peck was presented the Key to the City by Mayor Rick Baker.
A native of New Jersey, he is an Eagle Scout, was an avid tennis player, and has been a Florida resident since 1968. He is married to the former Margaret Raymond who spent who spent her formative years in St. Petersburg where they lived until 2011 when they moved to Regency Oaks, a Retirement Community in Clearwater. They have a daughter and six sons. All of the sons have served in the Armed Forces of the United States.
Since moving to Regency Oaks, he has been active in the resident organizations and is now serving as the vice president of the Resident Organization (RORO) and President of the Regency Oaks Veterans’ Association (ROVA). In addition, he also plays duplicate bridge and participates in resident theater productions. To boot, he also has been asked in consecutive years to represent all of the residents at corporate headquarters in Nashville. What next?
Summary Vitals: Bom 27 August, 1928, Jersey City, NJ
As an accomplished pilot, Maj Gen Peck served as the instructor pilot for many aircraft joining the Air Force fleet. These included fighter aircraft: F-80, F-4, F-lll and F-15; bomber aircraft: B-25, B-47, and B-52; trainer and tanker aircraft: T-6, T- 28, T-39, C-47, C-21, KC-135, and EC 1-35.
Summary of Nominee’s Advocacy on Behalf of Veterans:
Major General Peck has been a staunch proponent/advocate for veterans while on active duty and after his retirement in 1985. Since retiring from active service, Maj Gen Peck has advocated for the rights, pay, and benefits of veterans by serving actively and holding position in organizations and associations such as the Air Force Association, the Order of Daedalians, and the Military Officers’ Association of America (MOAA) where he served as both Chapter and State officer. Of note is that Chairman for the national convention of The Order of Daedalians in 2000 and twice chaired the State Convention for MOAA, all being monumental undertakings. General Peck also held active memberships in veteran service organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans. To maintain that link to aviation veterans, Maj Gen Peck also maintained an active affiliation with the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society. Again, these entities allowed Maj Gen (Ret.) Peck to use his stature and influence to promote veterans issues and causes.
Summary of Nominee’s Civic Activities and Contributions:
General Peck served as the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs from 1989 to 1996. Serving in this capacity under two Governors, Maj Gen Peck was the chief advocate for Florida’s then 1.7 million veterans who called Florida home. Advocating for veterans at both the State and Federal level, he sought to improve veterans’ quality of life through a variety of projects and legislative successes. These accomplishments ranged from the construction of State Veterans’ Nursing Home to tax reductions to veteran employment concessions.
Following his service to the State of Florida, he has served as the Director or Chairman of several not-for-profit Boards and spearheaded major conventions for The Retired Officers’ Association (later renamed the Military Officers Association of America) and the Order of Daedalians. In 2000, Maj Gen Peck served on the Review Commission for the City of St. Petersburg and was elected to the city’s Senior Hall of Fame in 2003 and later presented the Key to the City by then Mayor Rick Baker.
List Any Awards or Honors:
Military Awards and Decorations:
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
- Legion of Merit (four awards)
- The Bronze Star
- Vietnam Service Medal with four Campaign Stars
- Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm
- Republic of Vietnam Occupation Medal
- National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
- Air Force Overseas Long Service Tour Medal
- Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with one silver and three bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
- Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Civilian Awards, Decorations, and Honors:
- Eagle Scout
- Distinguished Member, St. Petersburg Area Chapter, MOAA
- Life Member Emeritus, St. Petersburg Area Chapter, MOAA
- Inductee: St. Petersburg, FL Senior Hall of Fame
- Recipient: St. Petersburg, FL Key to the City
Narrative:
I have personally known Maj Gen Peck for three years, but his stellar reputation, distinguished military career, and service to our country, the State of Florida, and Pinellas County reflect a life-long history of service, advocacy and support to Florida’s veterans, active duty servicemen/women, and their families. As a pivotal leader during a challenging time in the history of our country, Maj Gen Pecks leadership at the help of Florida’s Veterans Affairs Agency, he served as the stabilizing force for the Agency, ensuring the Agency was sized and resourced appropriately to meet the challenges of today and long into the future. Of historical importance is that Gen Peck served as the first (founding) Executive Director of FDVA, and in that capacity he secured State and Federal funding for the first
Veterans' Nursing Home (Daytona Beach) in Florida. A point of interest is that his professionalism shined through regardless of which political part led the State of Florida. Maj Gen Peck was appointed by then Governor Bob Martinez (Republican) and retained by Lawton Childs (Democrat)!
Even today Maj Gen Peck has remained connected to veteran related activities. On a personal note, Maj Gen Peck has even donned his uniform to serve as an honor guard member to pay tribute to fallen members of the St. Petersburg Area Chapter, MOAA. Important is the superb leadership and service example he set resonated with his children and as such, all six of his children have served or are still serving in the United States Armed Forces. His influence has also let to countless other young adults committing to serve in the Armed Forces.
Maj Gen Peck is a known commodity throughout Florida, and has left an indelible mark on our armed services, particularly the Air Force. He is a tireless worker, who has ensured, during his tenure that Florida's veterans received the utmost access to benefits and services earned as a product of their service to our great country. I wholeheartedly and strongly endorse Maj Gen Peck for inclusion in the 2015 inductee class of the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame.
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
MAJOR GENERAL EARL G. PECK
Retired April 01, 1985
Major General Earl G. Peck is director for intelligence and space policy in the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Washington, D.C.
General Peck was born in 1928, in Jersey City, N.J. He attended Rutgers University from 1945 to 1947. The general earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science, with highest honors, from the University of Texas, Austin, in 1958, and was selected for Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha membership. In 1968 General Peck was a distinguished graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., and concurrently earned a master of science degree in business administration from The George Washington University, also in Washington.
In August 1948 General Peck enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He later entered the aviation cadet program and, upon completing flight training in June 1950, was awarded pilot wings and received a regular commission as a distinguished graduate. He then transferred to Germany where he served as a jet fighter pilot, flying more than 1,200 hours in F-80s and F-84s with the 23rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron.
General Peck returned to the United States in October 1953 and was assigned to Webb Air Force Base, Texas, as a jet pilot instructor and instrument flight instructor in T-33s and T-28s. In September 1956 he entered the University of Texas under the Air Force Institute of Technology program. After graduation in July 1958, General Peck served for the next two years as a B-47 pilot and aircraft commander at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., and Pease Air Force Base, N.H. In September 1961 he was assigned as a B-52 pilot and later aircraft commander and instructor pilot at Homestead Air Force Base, Fla.
He began a four-year assignment in December 1963 with the Directorate of Personnel at Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. From August 1967 to September 1968, he was a student at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Following graduation General Peck was assigned to MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., for F-4 pilot training.
In May 1969 General Peck transferred to the Republic of Vietnam, as chief of special air operations at Headquarters Military Assistance Command Vietnam in Saigon. During this tour of duty he earned the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. He returned to Offutt Air Force Base in June 1970 as vice commander and later commander of the 3902nd Air Base Wing. The general then joined the Squadron Officer School staff at the Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in August 1972, and became commandant in January 1973.
He transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in March 1974 as chief of the Office of Air Force History. General Peck remained there until July 1975 when he returned to SAC headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base as the deputy chief of staff for personnel until April 1977; deputy chief of staff for operations until June 1978; and the command's chiefof staff until August 1980.
General Peck was then assigned as deputy commander of the 6th Allied Tactical Air Force, with headquarters at Izmir, Turkey. The command is a component of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and provides full-time air defense of Turkey, and would counter aggression by conducting air operations in support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization objectives. He assumed his present duties in October 1983.
The general is a command pilot with more than 6,500 accident-free flying hours in fighters, bombers, tankers and trainers. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal.
He was promoted to major general Jan. 18, 1977, with date of rank Nov. 1, 1973. General Peck’s hometown is Metuchen, N.J.
Biography
MajGen EARL G. PECK, USAF(Ret)
MajGen Earl G. Peck entered military service in 1948 and served more than thirty-six years. He is a Command Pilot with more than 7,000 hours in fighters, bombers, tankers, and trainers. Decorations include the Defense and Air Force Distinguished Service Medals, Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and many others.
Among positions he held in the Air Force were Chief of Staff, Strategic Air Command; Director Intelligence and Space Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense; Deputy Commander, Sixth Allied Tactical Air Force, Izmir, Turkey; Chief, Special Air Operations, Vietnam; and others as a squadron pilot and staff officer.
Aircraft he flew included the F-80, F-84, F-4, F-l 11, and F-l 5; the B-25, B- 47, and B-52; the T-6, T-28, T-33, and T-39; and the C-47, C-21, KC-135, and EC-135.
General Peck has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from George Washington University; a Bachelors Degree with Highest Honors from the University of Texas where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa; and is a Distinguished Graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Since his retirement from the Air Force in 1985, he has been active in the Air Force Association, the Order of Daedalians, and the Military Officers’ Association of America as a Chapter and State officer. He also taught graduate-level courses for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Other memberships include the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society.
General Peck served two Governors as the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs from 1989 until 1996. There he was the chief advocate for Florida’s 1.7 million veterans at the State and Federal level and improved their quality of life through a variety of projects and legislative successes.
Since then he has served as Director or Chairman for several not-for-profit Boards and spear-headed major conventions for the Retired Officers’ Association and the Order of Daedalians, In 2000 he served on the Charter Review Commission for the City of St. Petersburg and was elected to the City’s Senior Hall of Fame in 2003. In June of 2003 General Peck was presented the Key to the City by Mayor Rick Baker.
A native of New Jersey, he is an Eagle Scout, was an avid tennis player, and has been a Florida resident since 1968. He is married to the former Margaret Raymond who spent who spent her formative years in St. Petersburg where they lived until 2011 when they moved to Regency Oaks, a Retirement Community in Clearwater. They have a daughter and six sons. All of the sons have served in the Armed Forces of the United States.
Since moving to Regency Oaks, he has been active in the resident organizations and is now serving as the vice president of the Resident Organization (RORO) and President of the Regency Oaks Veterans’ Association (ROVA). In addition, he also plays duplicate bridge and participates in resident theater productions. To boot, he also has been asked in consecutive years to represent all of the residents at corporate headquarters in Nashville. What next?
Summary Vitals: Bom 27 August, 1928, Jersey City, NJ