Elmendorf Commanding General Dies Suspiciously
http://www.roguegovernment.com/…
07-28-2008
Anchorage Daily News
The commander of the Third Wing at Elmendorf Air Force died of a gunshot wound in his on-base residence Sunday night, the Air Force said this morning. Few details are being released, but an Air Force spokesman said there was no indication of foul play.
Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Tinsley was declared dead around 10:30 p.m., according to a statement issued by the Air Force early this morning.
Elmendorf medical authorities responded, the statement says.
There was no indication of foul play, Lt. Col. Michael Paoli, an Air Force spokesman, told the Associated Press.
The incident is under investigation, the statement says. Military officials are expected to provide more details later today.
Tinsley had served as the wing commander since May 2007.
The statement quotes Col. Richard Walberg, 3rd Wing vice commander: “Elmendorf is focusing on taking care of Mrs. Tinsley and her family right now. We ask that your thoughts and prayers go out to his family as well as his Air Force family who regarded him as a mentor, leader, world-class Airman and friend.”
Tinsley’s Air Force biography says he was a command pilot with more than 3,200 flight hours in the F-15, F/A-18 and F-22A fighter jets. He previously commanded Elmendorf’s 12th Fighter Squadron and the 1st Operations Group at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.
Prior to his Third Wing assignment, he was executive officer to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
He was commissioned in 1984 through the ROTC program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona. His biography says he was an F-15 instructor pilot, F-15C test pilot, wing weapons officer, exchange officer and instructor with the Royal Australian Air Force. He also has served in the Directorate for Plans and Policy on the Joint Staff and was executive assistant to the Deputy for Political-Military Affairs for Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
Elmendorf’s Third Wing flies F-22A and F-15C fighters, C-17 Globemaster cargo jets, C-12 passenger/cargo planes and E-3 AWACS, and maintains the regional medical facility for all forces in Alaska.
