From collection Member List
Russell Dougherty (Louisville) had planned a career in law, but the call of flying in the Air Force — which he first experienced from the cockpit of a B-29 in World War II — proved too strong. After returning home and becoming a practicing judge advocate, he eventually returned to the Air Force full-time.
Dougherty was a combat crew commander, operations officer, maintenance officer, and commander of a B-47 unit before eventually becoming the Commander in Chief of the Strategic Air Command and the Director of U.S. Strategic Target Planning, critical to national security.
During his career, he earned four Distinguished Service medals — three Air Force and one Defense — the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star medal and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. He received the Lifetime Achievement award in 2004. The strategic planning center at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska is named the Dougherty Conference Center in his honor. He was honored by Lambda Chi Alpha with the Order of Achievement in 1978.
General Dougherty died at the age of 86 on September 7, 2007 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Dougherty was a combat crew commander, operations officer, maintenance officer, and commander of a B-47 unit before eventually becoming the Commander in Chief of the Strategic Air Command and the Director of U.S. Strategic Target Planning, critical to national security.
During his career, he earned four Distinguished Service medals — three Air Force and one Defense — the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star medal and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. He received the Lifetime Achievement award in 2004. The strategic planning center at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska is named the Dougherty Conference Center in his honor. He was honored by Lambda Chi Alpha with the Order of Achievement in 1978.
General Dougherty died at the age of 86 on September 7, 2007 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
