John Revell "Jack" Dailey (born February 17, 1934) is a retired
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
four-star general who served as
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (ACMC) and Chief of Staff from 1990 to 1992, Acting Associate Deputy Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding th ...
(NASA) from 1992 to 1999; and director of the
National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, also called the Air and Space Museum, is a museum in Washington, D.C., in the United States.
Established in 1946 as the National Air Museum, it opened its main building on the Nat ...
(NASM) from 2000 to 2018.
His career in the Marine Corps spanned thirty-six years and included a wide variety of operational and staff assignments. He is a pilot with over 7000 hours in fixed and rotary wing aircraft. He has extensive command experience including the
Marine Corps Systems Command
Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) is the acquisition command of the United States Marine Corps, made up of Marines, sailors, civilians and contractors. As the only systems command in the Marine Corps, MCSC serves as Head of Contracting Authority ...
and the
Armed Forces Staff College
The Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC), located in Norfolk, Virginia, was established as the Armed Forces Staff College in 1946 and incorporated into the National Defense University in August 1981. It educates and acculturates joint and multinat ...
. He flew 450 missions during two tours in Vietnam and has numerous personal decorations which he received for combat operations.
["General John R. Dailey", NASA.]
Biography
John Dailey was born on February 17, 1934, in
Quantico, Virginia
Quantico ( or ; formerly Potomac) is a town in Prince William County, Virginia, United States. The population was 480 at the 2010 census. Quantico is approximately 35 miles southwest of Washington, DC, bordered by the Potomac River to the east a ...
, as the son of future Brigadier general and Naval aviator,
Frank G. Dailey and his wife Flora. He earned a
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...
degree from the
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...
, in 1956.
Marine Corps career
Upon graduation from UCLA, Dailey was commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1956. He completed
The Basic School
The Basic School (TBS) is where all newly commissioned and appointed (for warrant officers) United States Marine Corps officers are taught the basics of being an "Officer of Marines". The Basic School is located at Camp Barrett, Quantico, Vir ...
prior to flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1958.
His operational experience includes over 7,500 flying hours in fighters; light attack, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare aircraft; transports; and helicopters.
In 1972, Dailey served as commanding officer of Marine Composite Reconnaissance Squadron-l, and also commanded a carrier task unit supporting combat operations in North Vietnam. During two tours in Vietnam, he flew 450 combat missions. Returning from overseas in May 1973, Dailey was assigned to the Aviation Weapons Requirements Branch, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. In 1975 he entered the
National War College
The National War College (NWC) of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active.
History
The National War Colle ...
and, after graduation, returned to the Aviation Plans and Programs Branch at Headquarters Marine Corps.
In 1978. Dailey took command of
Marine Aircraft Group-ll,
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (abbreviated as 3rd MAW) is the major west coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, in San Diego, California and provides the aviation combat el ...
,
Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was a United States Marine Corps Air Station located next to the community of El Toro, near Irvine, California.
Before it was decommissioned in 1999, it was the home of Marine Corps Aviation on the West Coast. ...
. Then in July 1980 he assumed new duties as chief of staff of 3d Marine Aircraft Wing. He returned to Headquarters Marine Corps in July 1981 and was assigned as head of Aviation Plans, Programs, Budget and Joint Doctrine Branch. After promotion to brigadier general in May 1982, Dailey assumed the position of assistant deputy chief of staff for aviation. In May 1985 he took command of the
1st Marine Amphibious Brigade, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Dailey was promoted to major general on June 12, 1986, and took command of the
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW) is the major east coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered in Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The Wing provides the aviation combat element for the ...
, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic,
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point or MCAS Cherry Point (*) is a United States Marine Corps airfield located in Havelock, North Carolina, United States, in the eastern part of the state. It was built in 1941, and was commissioned in 1942 and ...
, North Carolina. He was assigned duty as the Commandant,
Armed Forces Staff College
The Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC), located in Norfolk, Virginia, was established as the Armed Forces Staff College in 1946 and incorporated into the National Defense University in August 1981. It educates and acculturates joint and multinat ...
, Norfolk, Virginia, on July 30, 1987. General Dailey assumed command of the Marine Corps Research, Development and Acquisition Command, Washington, D.C., on August 21, 1989, and was appointed to the grade of lieutenant general on November 24, 1989. He was appointed to the grade of general and assumed the post as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on August 1, 1990.
Post-Marine Corps career
After retirement from the Marine Corps, Dailey served as associate deputy administrator of
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding th ...
from 1992 to 1999. While at NASA, Dailey led the agency reinvention activities initiated by the NASA Administrator, guiding the development of new management processes in the face of a reduced budget environment.
[
Dailey recently retired as the Director of the ]National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, also called the Air and Space Museum, is a museum in Washington, D.C., in the United States.
Established in 1946 as the National Air Museum, it opened its main building on the Nat ...
.["Director Biography", NASM.]
Since assuming his position in 2000, Dailey has led efforts to expand the size and scope of the museum and increase public outreach. In 2003, in conjunction with the Centennial of Flight, the museum opened a second building, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, also called the Udvar-Hazy Center, is the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM)'s annex at Washington Dulles International Airport in the Chantilly area of Fairfax County, Virginia. It holds numerous e ...
in Chantilly, Virginia. More than 300 aircraft and space artifacts are housed in its two hangars: the Boeing Aviation Hangar and James S. McDonnell Space Hangar. In 2011, construction was completed on the center's second and final component, a section devoted to preservation and restoration of the museum's collection.
While at the Smithsonian, he has been awarded the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award by the University of California at Los Angeles, the Statesman of Aviation Award from the National Aeronautic Association, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wings Club, inducted into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame and the International Aviation Hall of Fame.
In 2014, Dailey was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame
The International Air & Space Hall of Fame is an honor roll of people, groups, organizations, or things that have contributed significantly to the advancement of aerospace flight and technology, sponsored by the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Sin ...
at the San Diego Air & Space Museum
San Diego Air & Space Museum (SDASM, formerly the San Diego Aerospace Museum) is an aviation and space exploration museum in San Diego, California, United States. The museum is located in Balboa Park and is housed in the former Ford Building, ...
.[Sprekelmeyer, Linda, editor. ''These We Honor: The International Aerospace Hall of Fame''. Donning Co. Publishers, 2006. .]
Decorations and awards
Dailey's personal decorations include:
* ''Though Gen. Dailey has been seen in recent photos wearing the NASA Distinguished Service Medal
The NASA Distinguished Service Medal is the highest award that can be bestowed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States. The medal may be presented to any member of the federal government, including both milita ...
with other mess dress or miniature medals in 3rd order of precedence according to US Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national secu ...
regulations all civilian awards should be worn after military or uniformed service decorations and unit citations
but before military service medals or foreign awards as shown above.''
Notes
References
:''This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps and NASA, which are part of the United States Government.
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dailey, John R.
1934 births
Living people
United States Marine Corps personnel of the Vietnam War
Assistant Commandants of the United States Marine Corps
Deputy Administrators of NASA
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
United States Marine Corps generals
University of California, Los Angeles alumni
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
Recipients of the Air Medal
Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
George H. W. Bush administration personnel
Clinton administration personnel