Merrill A. McPeak
General Merrill A. "Tony" McPeak "served for over 35 years in the US Air Force, culminating in four years as Chief of Staff from 1990 through 1994. He retired with the rank of 4-Star General. General McPeak has served as President of McPeak & Associates, an aerospace consulting company, since his retirement from active service. He is President and COO of Kitcomm Communications, Ltd, and Chairman of the Board of ECC, Intl., a publicly traded defense contractor. General McPeak also serves on the Boards of Directors of Tektronix, Inc., Trans World Airlines, Inc., and Centerspan Communications, Inc." [1]
"McPeak was a career fighter pilot who flew two years with the Thunderbirds and 269 missions over Vietnam. He now makes his home in Oregon and is a board director of several companies." May 2003
- Signatory, Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change
War in Iraq
"Disquiet among many about the diplomacy of the current American Administration includes the former Air force Chief of Staff, who directed the air campaign in Operation Desert Storm. Following that campaign, McPeak insisted on developing improved guided weapons to enable more precise targeting and limiting casualties from air strikes. He was critical of the cuts in defense forces during the Clinton administration and of the decision to invade Iraq without specific UN support.
- "By the standards of many Americans, McPeak would be considered hawkish but he has serious problems with the approach used by the Bush Administration in the Middle East. He is concerned about the damage that might be done to US relationships with the Muslim world and the processes employed in Iraq."
- "A Republican who headed Senator Robert Dole's 1996 presidential campaign in Oregon and served under the first President Bush (George H.W. Bush), McPeak is disappointed with the younger Bush's approach to diplomacy. He thinks Bush should start over and 'the world would fall in love with this guy.' He question's Bush's priorities as the President confronts terrorism, North Korea, the domestic economy, budget deficits, and declining good will toward America around the world." May 2003
