Brigadier General Robin G. Tornow retired from the United States Air Force July 1, 1993 and now resides in Mewnan, Georgia.
General Tornow was born April 30, 1942, in Monroe, Wisconsin, and graduated from Watertown High School in 1960. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1964 and a Masters Degree in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Texas in 1972. The general completed Squadron Officer School in 1971, Air Command and Staff College in 1975, Armed Forces Staff College in 1976, and Air War College in 1983.
After receiving his commission from the Academy, he completed undergraduate pilot training at Reese Air Force Base, Texas. His first assignment was with the 9th Military Airlift Squadron, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, where he was a pilot in the C-141 from August 1965 to November 1966. His next assignment was with the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Republic of Vietnam, as a forward air controller in the O-1 Bird Dog supporting the 101st Airborne Division and the 5th Special Forces Group.
From July 1968 to July 1971, General Tornow served at Royal Air Force Station Lakenheath, England, as an F-100 pilot, 492nd Tactical Fighter Squadron. He later became Wing Plans Officer and Emergency Actions Officer with the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing. After completing graduate school, he returned to the Air Force Academy in January 1973, serving as a professor in the Department of Engineering Mechanics until his departure in August 1976 to attend the Armed Forces Staff College.
In May 1977 the general transferred to Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, serving as Flight Commander and Operations Officer, 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. From May 1978 to August 1982, he was with the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. There he served as Operations Officer with the 336th Tactical FIghter Squadron, then as Squadron Commander, 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
After completing Air War College in June 1983, General Tornow took an assignment to Headquarters US Air Force, Washington, DC, as Assistant Chief of the War and Mobilization Planning Division. In July 1984, he became Deputy Assistant Director for Joint and National Security Council matters. Returning to flying duties, the general served as Vice Commander, 56th Tactical Training Win, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, from June 1985 until December 1986, when he became the Commander of the 405th Tactical Training Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. In June 1988, he was assigned to Panama as Commander of the US Air Force Southern Air Division, later redesignated as the 830th Air Division. In May 1990, he became the Commandant of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, with headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
Following retirement, the general served as a consultant for facility planning. He is now the Center Director for the University of West Georgia at Newnan.
The general is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours in a variety of aircraft including the C-141, O-1, OA-37, F-100, F-4, F-15, and F-16. His military awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 16 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Army Commendation Medal.
He was promoted to Brigadier General, November 1, 1989, with the same date of rank.
General Tornow is married to the former Barbara Kelly of Olathe, Kansas. They have a daughter, Kelli, who resides in Dallas, Texas, and a son, Brett, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Click here to read General Tornow’s final official USAF biography.