Chosen by his classmates to be president of both his junior and senior classes at Fairborn High School, Francis C. "Rusty" Gideon has continued to demonstrate high examples of leadership and service in his distinguished career in the United States Air Force.

Gideon, a member of the Class of 1962, excelled scholastically while in high school. He was a member of the National Honor Society and placed eleventh in Algebra II in state scholarship competition. He was also a delegate to Buckeye Boys’ State, participated in class plays his junior and senior years, was a member of the Fairborn Student Council, and was the treasurer of the Dayton Area Student Council.

His family background made Gideon familiar with the experiences and traditions of military service. His father, Francis Sr., was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as vice commander of the Air Force Logistics Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

The younger Gideon followed in his father’s footsteps and entered a military academy. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering sciences from the United States Air Force Academy in 1966, and a Master of Science in systems management from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1974.

Gideon has completed the four professional military education schools in the Air Force: Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, Air War College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

After being commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Force, Gideon entered undergraduate pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, and received his pilot’s wings in 1967. Following combat crew training, he was assigned to the 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron as an F-100 pilot in the Republic of Vietnam.

In 1969, Gideon was assigned to the 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, flying F-100s. In 1971, he was an F-4 pilot with the 492nd Tactical Fighter Squadron. In 1973, while still at Lakenheath, Gideon was chief of Programs and Mobility. He also spent two more months on temporary duty in Southeast Asia flying combat missions in the F-4.

After he earned his master’s degree, Gideon was assigned to Test Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, California. From 1976 to 1980, he served as an A-10 test pilot and the operations officer of the A-10 Combined Test Force at Edwards. During this period, he led a 30-man detachment to Fairbanks, Alaska, for Arctic testing of the A-10.

In June 1981, after completing Air War College, Gideon was assigned to Headquarters Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, as chief of the Aircraft Division and deputy director for Tactical Systems Planning.

In January 1984, Gideon moved to the Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson, where he served in several positions within the Tactical Systems Deputate. He was deputy director of the Fighter/Attack System Program Office; chief of the Projects and Test Division, F-15 System Program Office; and director of the Fighter/Attack System Program Office. Gideon was promoted to colonel on September 1, 1984.

In December 1986, Gideon became director of the Strike Systems Program Office, Deputy for Reconnaissance/Strike and Electronic Warfare Systems.

He served as commander of the 4950th Test Wing at Wright-Patterson from May 1987 until August 1988.

On August 24, 1988, Col. Gideon assumed command of the Foreign Technology Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The FTD has the responsibility for the collection, analysis, production, and dissemination of foreign aerospace scientific and technical intelligence.

Col. Gideon is a command pilot with more than 2,800 flying hours in fighter aircraft, including more than 270 combat missions during the Vietnam conflict.

Among his military decorations are the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with bronze star.

He and his wife, Ann, have two children. Their son, Bill, is a senior at the Air Force Academy, and their daughter, Courtney, attends East Elementary School in Fairborn.