Todd, Walter E. (Walter Edwin), 1906-1978

Walter E. Todd (1906-1978) was born in Gonzales, Texas and attended both Texas University, and the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he graduated from in 1928 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Field Artillery. Todd later graduated from both Primary Flight School at Randolph Field, Texas, as well as Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas. Prior to the outbreak of World War II, Todd served in command roles and as a flight instructor at both schools. In 1941, after a brief assignment with the Fourth Bomb Wing at Westover Field, Massachusetts, Todd took on several administrative roles at the U.S. Army Air Staff in Washington, DC, and at the War Department General Staff, where he became Deputy for Air, Strategy and Policy Group in the Operations Division in May 1943. General Todd served in Europe as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations of the Eighth Air Force between 1944 and 1945, and was later appointed U.S. Air Attaché to Russia in November, 1945. He was stationed in Moscow during for over a year after the conclusion of the war. Returning to the U.S. in early 1947, he returned to the War Department General Staff, where he became Deputy Director of Intelligence. Following the official creation of the Untied States Air Force in 1947, Todd served in command roles with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force. In 1952 he assumed command of the Western Air Defense Force at Hamilton AFB, California. Todd was again sent abroad in 1955 to command positions in Japan and in Korea, including an assignment (beginning in 1957) as Commander in Chief, United Nations Command, Korea. In July, 1958, he was reassigned as Commander of the Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He retired from active duty in July, 1961. The General's career decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal.