The President today announced his intention to nominate Gen. Larry D. Welch to be Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, Department of Defense. He would succeed Gen. Charles A. Gabriel, whose term expires June 30, 1986.
General Welch is currently serving as commander in chief, Strategic Air Command, and director, joint strategic target planning staff, Offutt Air Force Base, NE, a position he has held since August 1985. Previously, he was Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, 1984-1985; Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Resources at Air Force Headquarters, 1982-1984; Commander of the 9th Air Force and Air Force Component Commander for the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force, 1981-1982; and Inspector General, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Tactical Air Command Headquarters, Langley Air Force Base, VA, 1977-1981.
He graduated from the University of Maryland (B.A., 1971), George Washington University (M.S., 1972), the Armed Forces Staff College (1967), and the National War College (1972). General Welch is married and has four children. He was born June 9, 1934, in Guymon, OK.
Ronald Reagan, Nomination of General Larry D. Welch To Be Chief of Staff of the Air Force Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/258143