Order of the Sword (United States)


The Order of the Sword is an honor awarded within the United States Air Force. It A special program where noncommisioned officers of a command recognize individuals they hold in high esteem and wish to honor. Those selected for induction are usually honored during a formal ceremony at a dining-in.
The U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, in particular, lack such an honor bestowed by the enlisted corps upon the officer corps.
The origin of the tradition is that:
The Order of the Sword recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the enlisted corps. Only seven other individuals have been so honored since 1978. The ceremonial presentation was adopted from the Royal Order of the Sword and passed to the United States during the Revolutionary War. However, it lay dormant until it was reinstituted in its current form in 1967.

The original order of the sword was patterned after two orders of chivalry founded during the Middle Ages in Europe: the Royal Order of the Sword and the Swedish Military Order of the Sword, still in existence today. In 1522, King Gustavus I of Sweden ordered the noblemen commissioned by him to appoint officers to serve him, and these people became known as the noncommissioned officers.

Recipients

Source:
NumberRecipientMAJCOM/FOADate
1Brig Gen Roland J. BarnickMACMay 26, 1967
2Gen Howell M. Estes IIMACDecember 20, 1967
3Brig Gen Gilbert L. CurtisMACJune 18, 1968
4Brig Gen William V. McBrideMACFebruary 26, 1969
5Col Reid J. AndersonMACJuly 26, 1969
6Col Gilbert G. Smith, Jr.MACJuly 29, 1969
7Col Thomas J. ArbogastMACMay 12, 1970
8Brig Gen Clare T. Ireland, Jr.MACJuly 23, 1970
9Brig Gen John H. GermeraadMACOctober 2, 1970
10Brig Gen John F. GongeMACFebruary 24, 1972
11Gen Jack J. CattonMACApril 20, 1971
12Col Leonard V. GillespieMACSeptember 29, 1971
13Honorable F. Edward HebertMACOctober 28, 1971
14Maj Gen Archie M. BurkeNORADFebruary 11, 1972
15Brig Gen Richard M. BaughnUSAFEMarch 20, 1972
16Maj Gen William G. Moore, Jr.MACMay 6, 1972
17Col Tedd L. BishopMACJuly 14, 1972
18Maj Gen Jerry D. PageATCJuly 25, 1972
19Gen George B. SimlerATCAugust 25, 1972
20Brig Gen Van N. BackmanMACSeptember 8, 1972
21Col Robert H. CampbellMACJune 11, 1973
22Maj Gen Frank M. Madsen, Jr.ATCJanuary 24, 1974
23Maj Gen Frank W. Elliott, JrATCJuly 26, 1974
24Col James I. BaginskiPACAFJuly 29, 1974
25Brig Gen Irbey B. Jarvis, Jr.AFLCOctober 31, 1974
26Brig Gen Thomas M. SadlerMACMarch 12, 1975
27Maj Gen Lester T. KearneyMACMay 21, 1975
28Col Donald A. MichelaPACAFAugust 11, 1975
29Brig Gen Harry A. MorrisMACSeptember 19, 1975
30Maj Gen Leroy J. ManorPACAFApril 19, 1976
31Brig Gen Emil N. BlockMACJune 9, 1976
32Brig Gen James E. McAdooAFRESOctober 11, 1976
33Lt Gen John W. RobertsATCNovember 12, 1976
34Gen Paul K. CarltonMACFebruary 11, 1977
35Gen Louis L. Wilson Jr.PACAFMarch 18, 1977
36Gen Russell E. DoughertySACApril 5, 1977
37Maj Gen Ralph S. SaundersMACMay 6, 1977
38Col James T. AlbrittonUSAFEMay 6, 1977
39Maj Gen Alden G. GlauchMACJuly 19, 1977
40Brig Gen Kenneth D. BurnsAFSSOctober 20, 1977
41Maj Gen Andrew P. IosueATCMarch 3, 1978
42Gen Robert J. DixonTACMarch 10, 1978
43Brig Gen James L. WadeAFRESMarch 11, 1978
44Maj Gen Thomas A. AldrichMACMarch 30, 1978
45Lt Gen Thomas W. MorganAFSCApril 22, 1978
46Col Sharman R. StevensonPACAFMay 31, 1978
47Gen David C. JonesSACMay 31, 1978
48Col Dale L. OdermanMACJune 1, 1978
49Lt Gen James D. HughesTACJune 3, 1978
50Maj Gen Rupert H. BurrisAFCSJuly 19, 1978
51Maj Gen Paul M. MyersAFSCSeptember 14, 1978
52Lt Gen Bryon M. ShottsSACOctober 10, 1978
53Lt Gen Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., TACNovember 10, 1978
54Maj Gen William LyonAFRESMarch 3, 1979
55Maj Gen Benjamin F. Starr, Jr.MACApril 10, 1979
56Col Anthony J. DibaggioUSAFSSApril 19, 1979
57Lt Gen Thomas P. StaffordAFSCMay 5, 1979
58Brig Gen Pedroli AttilioATCDecember 6, 1979
59Maj Gen William C. NorrisUSAFEApril 9, 1980
60Maj Gen LeRoy W. Svendsen, Jr.AFMPCApril 10, 1980
61Maj Gen Robert E. SadlerAFCSApril 12, 1980
62Lt Gen Winfield Scott, Jr.AACMay 16, 1980
63CMSAF Donald L. Harlow, TACMay 20, 1980
64Mr. Robert HopeMACJune 10, 1980
65Col Thomas G. McInerneyPACAFJuly 22, 1980
66Gen Curtis E. LeMaySACSeptember 18, 1980
67Gen Alton D. SlayAFSCOctober 18, 1980
68Brig Gen Sidney S. NovaresiAFRESMarch 14, 1981
69Brig Gen Alan G. SharpAFRESApril 4, 1981
70Gen Richard H. EllisSACMay 8, 1981
71Maj Gen John T. GuiceANGMay 13, 1981
72Lt Gen Walter D. Druen, Jr.USAFEMay 16, 1981
73Lt Gen Kenneth L. TallmanUSAFAMay 21, 1981
74Gen Robert E. HuyserMACJune 19, 1981
75Brig Gen Staryl C. Austin, ANGOctober 30, 1981
76Maj Gen Doyle E. LarsonESCMarch 27, 1982
77Col Bruce M. PurvineMACJune 3, 1982
78Maj Gen Norma BrownATCJune 11, 1982
79Brig Gen Albert J. Kaehn, Jr.MACJuly 27, 1982
80Maj Gen Kenneth L. PeekAFMPCNovember 5, 1982
81Col Lester R. Melott, Jr.ESCFebruary 13, 1983
82Lt Gen Richard C. HenryAFSCApril 16, 1983
83Lt Gen Robert W. BazleyUSAFEMay 5, 1983
84Gen James R. AllenMACMay 18, 1983
85Lt Gen Charles L. Donley, Jr.PACAFMay 28, 1983
Lt Gen Charles L. Donley, Jr.USAFEFebruary 21, 1987
86Lt Gen Robert T. HerresAFCCAugust 27, 1983
87Gen Thomas M. Ryan, Jr.ATCSeptember 3, 1983
88Gen W. L. CreechTACFebruary 4, 1984
89Gen Robert T. MarshAFSCJune 16, 1984
90Gen James V. HartingerNORAD/SPACECOM29June 1984
91Lt Gen James W. StansberryAFSCSeptember 2, 1984
92Maj Gen Donald W. BennettMACOctober 12, 1984
93Gen Bennie L. DavisSACOctober 18, 1984
94Maj Gen John E. Taylor, Jr.USAFROctober 27, 1984
95Maj Gen John B. ConawayANGApril 10, 1985
96Brig Gen Regis F. A. UrschlerESCMay 1, 1985
97Maj Gen Cornelius NugterenAFLCMay 31, 1985
98Col Paul E. Landers, Jr.MACJune 17, 1985
99Maj Gen Sloan R. GillAFRESOctober 27, 1985
100Col Robert D. AcresAFLCNovember 2, 1985
101Gen John L. PiotrowskiTACJanuary 24, 1986
102Col James D. ElmerMACFebruary 8, 1986
103Gen Charles A. GabrielUSAFMarch 22, 1986
104Maj Gen Raymond A. MateraANGApril 18, 1986
105Brig Gen George E. ChapmanMACApril 26, 1986
106Brig Gen Vernon J. KondraMACJune 14, 1986
107Col Louis V. PeliniMACJuly 25, 1986
108Maj Gen William J. Breckner, Jr.USAFE.August 30, 1986
109Gen Earl T. O'LoughlinAFLCSeptember 19, 1986
110Brig Gen Floyd A. HargroveMACOctober 11, 1986
111Maj Gen Gerald L. PratherAFCCOctober 17, 1986
112Lt Gen Thomas C. RichardsAUNovember 1, 1986
113Maj Gen Chris O. DivichATCJanuary 15, 1987
114Maj Gen Donald D. BrownMACMarch 31, 1987
115Maj Gen Donald SnyderPACAFApril 8, 1987
116Gen Lawrence A. SkantzeAFSCApril 25, 1987
117Brig Gen Richard S. Beyea, Jr.AFOSISeptember 25, 1987
118Col Richard C. YoungsAFRESSeptember 26, 1987
119Maj Gen Jack W. SheppardMACOctober 2, 1987
120Lt Gen Edward L. TixierPACAFJanuary 11, 1988
121Lt Gen David L. NicholsAACMay 7, 1988
122Congressman Sonny MontgomeryAFRESMay 12, 1988
123Gen Jack I. GregoryPACAFJune 21, 1988
124Maj Gen Ralph E. SprakerAFSPACECOMJuly 1, 1988
125Honorable Caspar W. WeinbergerUSAFNovember 19, 1988
126Maj Gen Melvin G. AlkireAFCOMSJanuary 14, 1989
127Gen William L. KirkUSAFEMarch 18, 1989
128Brig Gen Alfred P. BuntingANGMarch 28, 1989
129Gen Alfred G. HansenAFLCApril 28, 1989
130Maj Gen Paul H. MartinESCJuly 14, 1989
131Gen Duane H. CassidyMACAugust 18, 1989
132Maj Gen Fredric F. DoppeltAFSCOctober 7, 1989
133Maj Gen James C. WahleithnerAFRESOctober 14, 1989
134Maj Gen Vernon ChongATCDecember 2, 1989
135Gen Larry D. WelchUSAFMarch 3, 1990
136Gen Bernard P. RandolphAFSCMarch 17, 1990
137Col Edmund C. Morrisey, Jr., ANGMarch 20, 1990
138Gen Robert D. RussTACApril 20, 1990
139Maj Gen Robert B. Patterson, MACApril 20, 1990
140Lt Gen Robert C. OaksATCJune 9, 1990
141Maj Gen Larry N. TibbettsATCJune 20, 1990
142Maj Gen Roger P. ScheerAFRESAugust 25, 1990
143Maj Gen Paul R. Stoney, AFCCSeptember 25, 1990
144Gen Michael J. DuganUSAFENovember 10, 1990
145Lt Gen James B. DavisPACAFNovember 24, 1990
146Maj Gen Paul A. HarveyATCFebruary 2, 1991
147Lt Gen Charles R. HammUSAFAApril 26, 1991
148Lt Gen Gordon E. FornellAFSCMay 11, 1991
149Gen John T. Chain, Jr.SACJanuary 13, 1991
150Lt Gen Donald L. CromerAFSCMay 17, 1991
151Col Richard F. LawAFOSIJune 20, 1991
152Maj Gen Richard M. PascoeTACJuly 16, 1991
153Maj Gen Joseph A. AhearnUSAFAugust 21, 1991
154Lt Gen Richard J. TrzaskomaMACSeptember 27, 1991
155Lt Gen Robert H. LudwigAFCCSeptember 28, 1991
156Gen Charles C. McDonaldAFLCFebruary 29, 1992
157Lt Gen Charles A. HornerTACMarch 14, 1992
158Lt Gen Clifford H. Rees, Jr.USAFEJuly 25, 1992
159Col Charles L. FoxPACAFOctober 20, 1992
160Gen Hansford T. JohnsonAMCFebruary 6, 1993
161Gen Charles G. BoydAUFebruary 25, 1993
162Maj Gen John S. FairfieldAFCCMay 11, 1993
163Maj Gen Philip G. KilleyANGNovember 9, 1993
164Gen Ronald FoglemanAMCMay 14, 1994
165Maj Gen Robert S. DeligattiUSAFEApril 29, 1994
166Lt Gen Bradley C. HosmerUSAFAApril 29, 1994
167Gen Ronald W. YatesAFMCMarch 5, 1994
168Maj Gen Robert A. McIntoshAFRESJuly 29, 1994
169Gen Merrill McPeakHQ USAFAugust 20, 1994
170Gen Robert L. RutherfordPACAFAugust 23, 1994
171Gen Henry ViccellioAETCOctober 1, 1994
172Maj Gen Kenneth A. MinihanAIAOctober 24, 1994
173Lt Gen Edward P. Barry, Jr.AFMCNovember 18, 1994
174Gen Thomas MoormanAFSPCNovember 28, 1994
175Gen John Michael LohACCFebruary 25, 1995
176Lt Gen Malcolm B. ArmstrongAMCSeptember 23, 1995
177Gen James L. JamersonUSAFENovember 18, 1995
178Gen Joseph W. AshyAFSPCAugust 17, 1996
179Col John E. KilleenAFSPASeptember 14, 1996
180Dr. William J. PerryHQ USAFOctober 19, 1996
181Lt Gen James E. Sherrard IIIAFRESNovember 2, 1996
182Maj Gen James L. Hobson, Jr.AFSOCJanuary 24, 1997
183Gen John G. LorberPACAFJune 30, 1997
184Lt Gen Paul E. SteinUSAFAJuly 12, 1997
185Maj Gen Donald W. ShepperdNGBNovember 4, 1997
186Col John L. HayesAFWAApril 4, 1998
187Gen Michael E. RyanUSAFEApril 17, 1998
188Gen Walter KrossAMCJuly 18, 1998
189Gen Howell M. Estes IIIAFSPCAugust 7, 1998
190Lt Gen Kenneth E. EickmannAFMCAugust 15, 1998
191Gen Richard E. HawleyACCApril 17, 1999
192Gen Lloyd W. NewtonAETCJune 18, 1999
193Col Raymond W. Owens IIIAFOSIOctober 21, 1999
194Maj Gen Paul A. Weaver Jr.ANGNovember 22, 1999
195Gen. Charles R. HollandAFSOCJanuary 22, 2000
196Gen George T. BabbittAFMCMarch 27, 2000
197Gen John P. JumperUSAFEApril 8, 2000
198Brig Gen Steven A. RoserAMCApril 14, 2000
199Lt Gen Tad J. OelstromAFSOCJune 7, 2000
200Brig Gen Richard A. ColemanAFSFCAugust 24, 2000
201Honorable F. Whitten PetersHQ USAFDecember 16, 2000
202Brig Gen Heinie AderholtAFSOCJanuary 18, 2001
203Gen Patrick GamblePACAFApril 6, 2001
204Maj Gen David E. TanziAFRESJune 2, 2001
205Gen Charles T. RobertsonAMCNovember 3, 2001
206Gen Ralph E. EberhartAFSCJanuary 25, 2002
207Lt Gen Maxwell C. BaileyAFSOCMarch 15, 2002
208Gen Lester L. LylesAFMCNovember 7, 2002
209Gen Gregory S. MartinUSAFEMarch 30, 2003
210Maj Gen Timothy J. McMahonACCOctober 22, 2004
211Honorable James G. Roche HQ USAFSeptember 13, 2004
212Gen William J. BegertPACAFJune 30, 2004
213Gen Hal M. HornburgACCOctober 22, 2004
214Gen Paul V. HesterAFSOCNovember 5, 2004
215Lt Gen John D. Hopper, Jr.AETCDecember 10, 2004
216Gen Donald G. CookAETCJune 14, 2005
217Maj Gen Tommy Crawford11th WingJuly 22, 2005
218Gen. John W. HandyAMCJuly 29, 2005
219Gen Robert H. "Doc" FoglesongUSAFEAugust 26, 2005
220Brig Gen Francis X. TaylorAFOSISeptember 16, 2005
221Lt. Gen. Daniel James IIIANGNovember 16, 2005
222Gen Lance W. LordAFSPCFebruary 11, 2006
223Gen Duncan McNabbAMCSeptember 16, 2007
224Lt Gen Michael W. WooleyAFSOCSeptember 21, 2007
225Gen William T. HobbinsUSAFENovember 17, 2007
226Gen Bruce CarlsonAFMCDecember 6, 2007
227Gen William R. Looney IIIAETCMay 30, 2008
228Col. Francis M. MungavinUSAFROctober 24, 2008
229Lt Gen Charles L. Johnson IIAFMCJune 20, 2008
230Lt Gen Robert D. Bishop, Jr.USAFEJuly 19, 2008
231Lt Gen Craig R. McKinleyANGNovember 1, 2008
232Gen Stephen R. LorenzAETCJuly 16, 2010
233Gen Roger A. BradyUSAFESeptember 7, 2010
234Gen Gary L. NorthPACAFAugust 26, 2011
235Lt. Gen Michael C. GouldUSAFAMarch 19, 2012
236Gen Donald J. HoffmanAFMCMarch 30, 2012
237Maj Gen Alfred K. FlowersAETCApril 6, 2012
238Gen Raymond E. Johns, Jr.AMCNovember 28, 2012
239Gen Norton A. SchwartzAFSOCFebruary 1, 2013
240Brig Gen Kevin J. JacobsenAFOSIJuly 8, 2013
241Honorable Michael B. Donley USAFSeptember 13, 2013
242Lt. Gen. James M. KowalskiAFGSCNovember 6, 2014
243Gen Frank GorencUSAFEApril 7, 2016
244Lt. Gen Stanley E. Clarke IIIANGApril 17, 2016
245Gen Mark A. Welsh IIIUSAFApril 22, 2016
246Lt. Gen James F. JacksonUSAFRJuly 13, 2016
247Gen Herbert J. "Hawk" CarlisleACCOctober 27, 2016
248Brig Gen Keith M. GivensAFOSIMay 19, 2017
249Gen Lori J. RobinsonUSAFAugust 25, 2019