Mobility leaders pay tribute to former a Air Mobility commander

by Staff Sgt. Amber R. Kelly-Herard
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

7/11/2013 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.  -- Air Mobility Command lost one of its own, Gen. Robert L. Rutherford, July 4, of natural causes at the age of 74 in San Antonio, Texas.

"It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Gen. Rutherford," said Gen. Paul J. Selva, AMC commander. "'Skip' took our business very seriously and his Airmen executed that way."

Rutherford became AMC's third commander Oct. 18, 1994 and U.S. Transportation Command's commander in chief in what was a dual-hatted position at the time.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Kita, their two sons, and the rest of their family," said Selva.

"General Rutherford served as our commander during a pivotal time, helping reengineer the Defense Transportation System following Desert Storm," said Gen. Will Fraser, III, USTRANSCOM commander. "His ideas and leadership built the command that has so robustly supported the Global War on Terror following the 9/11 attacks - indeed, the command you know today."

"You will recall that this headquarters was set up to do two things," said Rutherford before retiring Aug. 1, 1996, after 35 years of service. "No. 1, to plan and No. 2, to execute."

Rutherford also directed USTRANSCOM's involvement in humanitarian missions in places including Rwanda, Bangladesh and Croatia.

"Airlift is essential because it provides credible power projection and through that projection, capable deterrence," said Rutherford in a speech at the Air Force Association National Symposium held Oct. 27, 1995, in Los Angeles. "Should deterrence fail, airlift is the critical factor in delivering forces and providing warfighting capability.

'I'm very fond of telling my fellow compatriots you can't leave home without us," he continued. "Without sufficient lift, forces can't deploy to the theater in time to fight and they cannot be sustained."

James Matthews, USTRANSCOM Research Center director when the general retired, said Rutherford's theme for his command was increased efficiency to USTRANSCOM, its component commands and the Defense Transportation System without decreasing the command's effectiveness to fight war.

Under Rutherford's command, USTRANSCOM flew more than 4,000 missions delivering more than 24,000 passengers and 64,000 tons of cargo while moving another 400,000 square feet of surface cargo for operations including Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, Sea Signal, Provide Promise, Able Sentry, Uphold Democracy, Assured Response and Joint Endeavor.

"This is a great loss to the Mobility community," said Selva. "Know that the work we do each day in AMC pays tribute to the legacy Gen. Rutherford helped create."

Rutherford also held the position as Military Airlift Command vice commander from May 1991 to May 1992.

Rutherford entered the Air Force in 1961 as a distinguished graduate of the Southwest Texas State University ROTC program.

He was a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours in the T-37, T-38, F-4, F-15, F-16,. F-111, C-5, C-130, C-135 and C-141.

A graveside service will be held July 15 at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery at 10 a.m. with a celebration to follow at Spring Creek United Methodist Church in Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, at noon.