Gen Don G. Cook, USAF (ret.)
Donald G. Cook is a retired United States Air Force four star general who served as Commander, Air Education and Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas from 2001 to 2005. As Commander, he was responsible for the recruiting, training and education of Air Force people. His command includes the Air Force Recruiting Service, two numbered air forces and Air University. Air Education and Training Command consists of 13 bases, more than 66,000 active-duty members and 15,000 civilians.
The general entered the Air Force in 1969 through the ROTC program at Michigan State University. He completed undergraduate pilot training at Williams AFB, Ariz. The general has commanded a flying training wing, two space wings and the 20th Air Force (the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile force), and was the Commander of Air Combat Command during the attack on September 11, 2001. He has served as Legislative Liaison in the Senate Liaison Office, on the staff of the House Armed Services Committee, and as Director for Expeditionary Aerospace Force Implementation at U.S. Air Force headquarters. Prior to assuming his current position, the general was assigned to Air Combat Command as Vice Commander. He is a command pilot and has flown more than over 4,000 hours in various trainer, bomber and fighter aircraft.
His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Combat Readiness Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal with bronze star.
General Cook currently serves as a Director on the boards of: Crane Corporation, USAA Federal Savings Bank, Hawker Beechcraft Aircraft Company, U.S. Security Associates and Housing One Source. He is also a consultant for Lockheed Martin and serves on the Board of Directors/Executive Committee of the San Antonio United Way and is a Trustee for the Southwest Research Institute. He previously served on the Board of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad until it was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway.
