STILLWATER, OKLA. - General Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF (Ret.) of Durango, Colo. has been elected to the Hall of Outstanding Americans by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum.

Fogleman will be inducted, along with other special award winners and the Class of 2007 Distinguished Members, at the 2007 Honors Weekend Banquet and Induction Ceremony June 2, 2007 in Stillwater, Okla.

The Hall of Outstanding Americans demonstrates wrestling's pride in those who have used the disciplines of the sport to launch notable careers in other walks of life, such as science and technology, business and industry, government and the military, the arts and humanities, among others. New classes of these remarkable achievers are inducted annually.

Fogleman made his impact on our nation as a military leader. He served as the 15th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, the highest leadership position and senior ranking officer in the USAF. As chief, he was responsible for the organization, training and equipage of 750,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. He was the first U.S. Air Force Academy graduate to become Air Force Chief of Staff.  

He also served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he and the other service chiefs functioned as military advisers to the secretary of defense, National Security Council and the president. He was a career officer in the USAF from 1963-1997, compiling an incredible record of service and success.

In his flight career, he received a rating as a Command pilot and parachutist. He logged more than 6,800 flight hours in fighter, transport, tanker and rotary wing aircraft. He flew 315 combat missions and logged 806 hours of combat flying in fighter aircraft. Fogleman received pilot wings from the Republic of Korea, Romania and Thailand.

In early assignments he instructed student pilots, performed combat duty as a fighter pilot and high-speed forward air controller in Vietnam and Thailand, taught history at the Air Force Academy and conducted flight operations in Europe -- including duty as an F-15 aircraft demonstration pilot for international airshows. He commanded an Air Force wing, an air division, a numbered air force, a major command and a unified command.

Among his senior command positions were the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Transportation Command and Commander of the Air Mobility Command, in which he managed the operation of a complex air transportation system that interfaced with commercial airlines and the National Airspace System.

He has received numerous decorations throughout his brilliant military career, receiving medals, ribbons, awards and citations for his achievements. 

Among these military honors are the following:
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
- Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
- Army Distinguished Service Medal
- Navy Distinguished Service Medal
- Silver Star
- Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
- Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster
- Purple Heart
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Air Medal with 17 oak leaf clusters
- Aerial Achievement Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
- Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars

Among his international awards were the Order of National Security Merit (Kooksun, Republic of Korea); Gallantry Cross with Palm (Republic of Vietnam); Venezuelan Air Force Cross, First Class; Knight Grand Cross, First Class, of the Most Noble Order of the Crown (Thailand); Grand Cordon, First Class, of the Rising Sun (Japan); Royal Order, First Class, of the Polar Star (Sweden) and the Legion of Honor, with the rank of Commander (France).

Among his other achievements is serving as a fellow with the Inter University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Fogleman has received Lance P. Sijan USAF Leadership Award and the H.H. Arnold Trophy. He also has served on the Council on Foreign Relations at Fort Lewis College.

Since retiring from the service, Fogleman became Chairman and CEO of Durango Aerospace Inc., an aviation consulting company. He also is President and COO for the B Bar J Cattle Company and a Member of the Board of Trustees of The MITRE Corporation and a Partner with Laird and Company. Fogleman has also served as a member of the Board of Directors for a number of other corporations, many in the aviation industry.

He has chaired an Air Force Research Laboratory study on directed energy weapons for tactical platforms and has served as a member of NASA's Mars Program Independent Assessment Team, the congressionally mandated Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization (the Rumsfeld Commission), and the Defense Policy Board.

Fogleman was a successful wrestler for Juniata High School in Mifflintown, Pa., where he was team captain as a senior and won regional and sectional tournaments. He competed at many weights from 154 pounds through heavyweight depending upon where the team needed him in the lineup. He was also a member of the varsity wrestling team as a Cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

He received his bachelors degree in General Science at the U.S. Air Force Academy.. He received a Masters degree in Military History and Political Science from Duke University and also completed the Army War College in 1975-76.