Elwood Richard Quesada
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Elwood Richard "Pete" Quesada (April 13, 1904 – February 9, 1993) was a U.S. Air Force general and FAA administrator.
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[edit] Early military career
Quesada enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a flying cadet in 1924 and was commissioned as a reserve officer a year later. He had a wide variety of assignments as aide to senior officers, military attache and technical adviser to other air forces, and in intelligence. He was also part of the team (with Ira Eaker and Carl Spaatz) that developed and demonstrated air-to-air refueling in 1929 on the Question Mark. All five crew members were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their participation in the mission.
[edit] Rank and promotions
Lieutenant General Quesada was promoted and held commands as follows:
- First Lieutenant 1932
- Captain 1935
- Major 1941 -- 33rd Pursuit Group
- Lieutenant Colonel 1942 -- Philadelphia Region, 1st Fighter Command
- Brigadier General 1942 -- 1st Air Defense Wing; 12th Fighter Command; 9th Fighter Command; 9th Tactical Air Command
- Major General 1944 -- 3rd Air Force
- Lieutenant General 1947 -- Tactical Air Command
[edit] Further achievements
During his time as a junior officer he became interested in the concept of close air support of ground forces, which was thoroughly developed by the 9th during his time as commander in North Africa and Europe.
He held staff assignments with the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1949 until his retirement in 1951.
[edit] Civilian milestones
He was an executive for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation from 1953 to 1955. In 1957 he became President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Special Advisor for Aviation, leading to his appointment as first administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from 1959 to 1961.
Quesada got into sports when he became owner of the expansion Senators in 1961. He did not understand how to properly run a baseball team, saying, "Why should I pay ballplayers who are not good enough to play in the major leagues?" Such short-sighted thinking also led Quesada to sign only a 10 year lease to use DC Stadium which set up the conditions for the team's eventual departure. Quesada sold the team to Bob Short in 1968.
[edit] Awards and decorations
General Quesada's medals and awards include Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster; Distinguished Flying Cross; Purple Heart; Air Medal with two silver stars; American Defense Service Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and seven bronze battle stars; World War II Victory Medal; Order of the Bath (Degree of Companion); Commander of British Empire; French Legion of Honor; French Croix de Guerre with Palm; Luxembourg Croix de Guerre; Order of Adolphe of Nassau; Polish Pilot Badge; Conmandeur de l'Ordre de la Couronne with Palm; Croix d'Officier de l'Order de la Couronne with Palm.
| Preceded by — |
Federal Aviation Administrator 1958–1961 |
Succeeded by Najeeb Halaby |
