Michael P. C. Carns

Michael Patrick Chamberlain Carns (born June 23, 1937) was the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1991 to 1994.

Early life
Carns was born in Junction City, Kansas. After graduating from St. John's College High School, Washington, D.C. in 1955, he went to the United States Air Force Academy and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1959.

After completing his B.S. degree, Carns completed primary pilot training in March 1960 at Graham Air Base in Florida and basic pilot training in September 1960 at Laredo Air Force Base in Texas.

Career
Following pilot training, Carns served as a Flight Instructor at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas. In 1961, he was appointed Aide to the Commander, Air Reserve Records Center, Denver, Colorado, then Aide to the Commander, 4th Air Force Reserve Region, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, followed by duty as Air Operations Officer at the same base.

Carns completed an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1967. After getting his MBA, he was assigned to the 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron, George Air Force Base, flying F-4 Phantom II's. He transferred to the 40th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, again flying F-4s in January 1968. From August 1968 to September 1969 he was assigned to the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand, where he flew 200 combat missions in the F-4E.

Carns returned to the US in September 1969 and he was assigned to Air Force headquarters as a Plans and Programs Officer, and later, as Aide to the United States Air Force Chief of Staff. This was followed by tours at Madrid-Torrejón Airport in Spain, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium and, RAF Bentwaters in England.

After completing the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1977, Carns was assigned to the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Bentwaters, as deputy commander for operations.

Carns returned to the US in March 1979 and took command of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. He moved to Nellis Air Force Base in October 1980 as commander of the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing. In June 1982 he became director of operations, J-3, Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force, later redesignated United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base. He became deputy chief of staff for plans, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base in July 1984, and deputy chief of staff for operations and intelligence in June 1985. In July 1986 he assumed command of 13th Air Force, Clark Air Base in the Philippines. In June 1987 he was assigned as deputy commander in chief and chief of staff, United States Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith in Hawaii. In September 1989 he became Director of the Joint Staff, Washington, DC. He became the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force in May 1991. On May 16, 1991, he was promoted to the rank of general.

Life after retirement from U.S. Air Force
Carns retired from the United States Air Force in September 1994. After retiring from the U.S. Air Force, he served as the Managing Director of a small healthcare firm for one year, followed by over four years as Executive Director of a New York-based policy research firm that specialized in Pacific Rim security in the areas of international capital flows and international energy demands. He is currently the Vice Chairman of PrivaSource, Inc., a small software firm specializing in the security and de-identification of large, sensitive databases, in Weston, Massachusetts. Carns is also currently serves on the Board of Directors for VirtualAgility, Inc. and M-International, Inc.

Military awards and decorations
Carns has received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal and the Government of the Philippines Outstanding Achievement Medal.


 * Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
 * Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
 * SilverStar.gif Silver Star
 * US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Superior Service Medal
 * Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
 * Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg Distinguished Flying Cross
 * Air Medal ribbon.svg Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters
 * Air Force Commendation ribbon.svg Air Force Commendation Medal