Retired April 1, 1980.  

Brigadier General George J. Kertesz is deputy director of operations and readiness, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Plans and Readiness, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

General Kertesz was born in 1928, in Minneapolis where he graduated from North High School in June 1946. He received a bachelor of arts degree in air science from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, in February 1963 and a master's degree in business administration from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in June 1964. He is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College.

General Kertesz entered the Air Force as an aviation cadet in July 1950 and, after pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Okla., and Perrin Air Force Base, Texas, received his wings and commission in August 1951. He then served as a mission pilot, flying B-25s at Sheppard and James Connally Air Force bases, Texas.

From April 1954 to June 1958, General Kertesz flew KC-97s at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, for the Strategic Air Command. His next assignment was to the 3576th Pilot Training Squadron at Vance Air Force Base, where he served as instructor pilot, flight commander, checkflight commander and operations officer. In September 1963 he entered the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. After graduation in August 1964, General Kertesz attended the F-100 operational training course at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

His first overseas assignment was in May 1965 as assistant operations officer with the 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Station Lakenheath, England. From June 1966 to April 1968, he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Lindsey Air Station, Germany, where he first served as chief, Requirements Branch in the Directorate of Operations and Training, and later as operations staff officer for the deputy chief of staff for operations. In June 1968 he transferred to Phu Cat Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, where he flew 267 combat missions in the F-100 while serving as operations officer and commander of the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron.

General Kertesz returned to Sheppard Air Force Base in June 1969 where he was base air operations staff officer. In June 1970 he transferred to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., where he held positions as chief, Middle East, Africa South of Sahara and South Asia/Atlantic Branch, and major command chief, Plans Division.

In July 1972 General Kertesz became commander of Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Two years later he was transferred to Vance Air Force Base as commander of the 71st Flying Training Wing. He served there until April 11, 1975, when he returned to Moody Air Force Base as commander of the 38th Flying Training Wing.

General Kertesz went to Norton Air Force Base, Calif., in September 1975. He was deputy director of inspection for the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center and in April 1976 became director of inspection. He was assigned as chief, Air Force Section, U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group, Tehran, Iran, in June 1978. He assumed his present position in July 1979.

He is a command pilot. His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon with oak leaf cluster.

He was promoted to brigadier general Aug. 1, 1976, with date of rank July 21, 1976.

(Current as of November 1979)