Anthony J. Burshnick
From USAFA Folklore
| Anthony J. Burshnick | |
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| 1937 - | |
| USAFA position(s): | Commandant, 1982-84 |
| Rank: | Lt. Gen. |
| Nickname(s): | |
| Awards and Recognition: | |
| USAFA Class: | 1960 |
| Cadet squadron: | |
| Cadet Activities: | |
| Official bio: | http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=4872 |
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Lt. Gen. Anthony J. Burshnick, Class of 1960, was the twelfth Commandant of Cadets, serving in that position from 1982 to 1984.
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[edit] Accounts from his time as Comm
- Overall, I thought Tony was a good guy as Comms go. As a member of the Class of '84, I had the distinct honor of attending under three Commandants. King Richards (about whom much has already been written, but I will share one story about him, too); Robert D. Beckel (a real gentleman from my far away perspective) and then there is Tony B.
The first, and as far as I know, last Commandant who could pass as a member of the WWF, Gen. B.'s beltline was so huge it looked like he'd taken a 5,000 lb. tie down strap off a C-130, Rit dyed it blue and wrapped it around his waist. Rumors abounded about his time as Base Commander at Yokota back in the late '70s/early '80s. Allegedly, he competed in an exhibition sumo match with some visiting sumo wrestlers. As anyone who's been to the O Club there knows, it's called the Sumo Lounge, and sumo wrestlers do visit there from time to time. If the story is true, then ol' Tony came out in the mawashi (loincloth) of the professional sumo wrestler, with butt exposed. The story I got was that the USFJ Commander was none too pleased with the public display of nudity by Tony, but it didn't seem to slow down his career arc too terribly much.
I had two encounters with the Big Guy at USAFA. The first was down at Randolph AFB, where a bunch of us guys were participating in a program where we shadowed TIs during Basic Training. He came to our Q and told us how he thought this was a good program. He then asked for questions. Predictably, no one piped up. He scanned the room, kind of snorted and said "Then I guess I'LL ask the questions" turned right to me and said "Tell me how you find AF Basic Training and BCT/basic trainees and basic cadets different and similar." A loaded question if ever there was one, but I choked up something about how smart, motivated etc. etc. I found the trainees and TIs and how I had learned so much about the "real" Air Force. He said "Glad to hear that as I was prior enlisted myself, you know [I didn't)."
The second encounter was fall of my firstie year. Word came down that Tony B. was coming down to see how we were handling our temporary room arrangements in Sijan. The renovations of rooms in Vandy had predictably run over schedule and we were housed across the Terrazzo, firsties three to a room and some three degrees were stacked upwards of six to a room. Luckily my roommate and I were the only firsties with a two man room as we had a number non-divisible by three. Of course, he visited my room. After making a little small talk, he started checking out my brand new Sony 26" TV (we could have TV's in the room at that time) and started asking about what kind of remote I had, how was my reception from that side of the building etc etc. It was a little unnerving. Then he asked why I had so many lamps in my room. I was the Logistics Officer, hence my stash, and he made a little joke about it looking like Sanford and Son, gave me a carry on and left.- (25 Sep 2001)
[edit] Bio
[edit] Background
General Burshnick was born in Forest City, Pa., in 1937, where he graduated from high school in 1954. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1960 and a master of science degree in public administration from Auburn University in 1976. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1964, Armed Forces Staff College in 1971 and Air War College as a distinguished graduate in 1976. The general also completed the executive development program at Cornell University in 1980 and Harvard University's International Security Forum in 1986.
[edit] Military assignments
He enlisted in the Air Force in 1954 and served as an electronics instructor at Chanute Air Force Base, Ill., until entering the academy in 1956. Upon graduating in June 1960, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and then completed pilot training at Spence Air Base, Ga., and Vance Air Force Base, Okla. After receiving his pilot wings in September 1961, he was assigned to the 40th Military Air Transport Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., as a C-135 pilot. In January 1965 he transferred to the 19th Air Commando Squadron in the Republic of Vietnam as a C-123 pilot.
Upon his return to the United States in January 1966, he served as a C-135 instructor pilot with the 40th Military Airlift Squadron at McGuire. In January 1967 he returned to the Air Force Academy as an air officer commanding and chief of the Cadet Scheduling Division. The general attended the Armed Forces Staff College from January 1971 to July 1971. He then was assigned as war plans officer at MAC headquarters. This was followed by an assignment in January 1973 to Washington, D.C., as an Air Force liaison officer to the U.S. House of Representatives. In June 1975 he was selected to attend the Air War College.
General Burshnick served as assistant deputy commander and, then, deputy commander for operations, 443rd Military Airlift Wing, at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., from July 1976 to April 1978. He next was assigned as vice commander of the 63rd Military Airlift Wing at Norton Air Force Base, Calif. In May 1979 the general took command of the 475th Air Base Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
Returning to the United States in July 1980, he was assigned to Travis Air Force Base, Calif., where he served initially as commander of the 60th Military Airlift Wing. In March 1982 he became vice commander of 22nd Air Force. In June 1982 he returned to the Air Force Academy as commandant of cadets and in July 1984 he was assigned as deputy chief of staff for plans at MAC headquarters. In October 1986 the general was assigned as director of personnel programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He became assistant deputy chief of staff for plans and operations at Air Force headquarters in June 1987. He assumed his present duties in September 1988.
[edit] Awards and recognition
The general is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours in aircraft including T-29s, T-39s, C-47s, C-118s, C-123s, C-131s, C-135s, C-141s and C-5s. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 16 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and four oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with service star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with three service stars, Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with seven oak leaf clusters, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
| Commandant of Cadets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Robert D. Beckel | Anthony J. Burshnick 1982-1984 | Succeeded by: Marcus A. Anderson |
| Commandants |
|---|
| Stillman · Sullivan · Seawell · Strong · Seith · Olds · Galligan · Vandenberg · Beck · Richards · Beckel · Burshnick · Anderson · Westbrook · Redden · Bethurem · Gamble · Hopper · Lorenz · Welsh · Gilbert · Weida · Desjardins · Cox |
