General Walter Kross (born October 3, 1942) is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, U.S. Transportation Command/Commander, Air Mobility Command (USCINCTRANS/COMAMC) from 1996 to 1998.
Kross was commissioned through Officer Training School in December 1964. His early career combined both fighter and airlift experience as he flew 157 F-4 combat missions, 100 over North Vietnam. He later transitioned to airlift, then senior executive and congressional pilot support. He was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force for six years, part of that time in the Chief's Staff Group. He has served as commander of a C-5 wing, as director of operations and logistics for all defense transportation requirements in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and as director of operations for Air Force headquarters. Additionally, Kross was commander of the provisional force in charge of standing up Air Mobility Command, as well as its first vice commander. He was also commander of 15th Air Force, Travis Air Force Base, California, then director, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C..
1964 Bachelor of science degree in chemistry, Niagara University, New York1971 Distinguished graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama1974 Master's degree in government, Southern Illinois University1975 Master's degree in public administration, Auburn University, Alabama1975 Distinguished graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama1977 Air War College1982 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.1985 Executive Development Program, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University1990 Senior Executive Seminar, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard UniversityDecember 1964 – July 1966, student, pilot training, Laredo Air Force Base, TexasJuly 1966 – February 1967, F-4 pilot, 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, FloridaFebruary 1967 – September 1967, F-4 pilot, 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron, George Air Force Base, CaliforniaSeptember 1967 – September 1968, F-4C aircraft commander, 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Da Nang Air Base, South VietnamSeptember 1968 – March 1972, C-141 pilot, 76th Military Airlift Squadron, later, flight examiner, 437th Military Airlift Wing, Charleston Air Force Base, South CarolinaMarch 1972 – August 1974, VC-135 and VC-137 special missions pilot, 98th Military Airlift Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, MarylandAugust 1974 – August 1975, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force BaseAugust 1975 – April 1979, air operations officer, tactical forces division, and later, assistant deputy director for Joint and Congressional Matters, directorate of plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.April 1979 – July 1981, member, chief of staff of the Air Force Staff Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.July 1981 – June 1982, student, National War College, and senior research fellow, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.June 1982 – March 1984, deputy commander for operations and later, vice commander, 89th Military Airlift Wing, Andrews Air Force BaseMarch 1984 – July 1987, vice commander, and later, commander, 436th Military Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base, DelawareJuly 1987 – October 1988, vice commander, Air Force Military Personnel Center, and deputy assistant deputy chief of staff, personnel for military personnel, Randolph Air Force Base, TexasOctober 1988 – May 1990, deputy chief of staff, plans and requirements, Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, TexasMay 1990 – July 1991, director of operations and logistics (J-3/J-4), Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, IllinoisJuly 1991 – January 1992, director of operations, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.January 1992 – July 1992, commander, Air Mobility Command (Provisional), Scott Air Force Base, IllinoisJuly 1992 – June 1993, vice commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, IllinoisJune 1993 – July 1994, commander, 15th Air Force, Travis Air Force Base, CaliforniaJuly 1994 – July 1996, director, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.July 1996 – 1998, commander in chief, U.S. Transportation Command, and commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, IllinoisRating: Command pilotFlight hours: More than 5,700Aircraft flown: F-4, C-141, VC-135, VC-137, C-5, T-37, T-38, T-33, KC-135, C-140, C-21, C-9 and KC-10Major awards and decorations
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf clusterDistinguished Service MedalLegion of MeritDistinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clustersMeritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clustersAir Medal with 12 oak leaf clustersAir Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf clusterVietnam Service Medal with four service starsRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm 
