General Habiger has over 35 years of experience in National Security and Nuclear Operations. In his previous assignment as the Commander in Chief of United States Strategic Command, he was responsible for all U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy strategic nuclear forces supporting the national security objective of strategic deterrence. In this position he established an unprecedented military-to-military relationship with his Russian counterparts and extraordinary confidence building and openness resulted. This initiative was the centerpiece of a 60 Minutes II segment in February 2000 and a CNN special in October 2000.
He is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, primarily in bomber aircraft. During the Vietnam War, he flew 150 combat missions.
He serves on the Board of Directors for the Ted Turner's Nuclear Threat Initiative Foundation, Armed Services YMCA and the Fischer House Foundation of San Antonio.
General Habiger enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1959 and served in the infantry at Fort Benning, Georgia. In 1963, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and earned distinguished graduate honors at Officers Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Following completion of the Air Intelligence Officer Course at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado, in 1964, he went on to serve as an instructor at the U.S. Air Force Survival School at Stead Air Force Base, Nevada. From July 1965 to August 1966, General Habiger underwent pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, and followed that with B-52 combat crew training at Castle Air Force Base California. From January 1967 through November 1970, General Habiger served as a B-52 pilot, aircraft commander, and instructor pilot with the 524th Bombardment Squadron, 379th Bombardment Wing, Wurtsmith Air Force, Michigan. He flew B-52 missions in support of Arc Light Operations in Southeast Asia from October 1969 to April 1970. His next assignment took him to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, for C-7A flight training. General Habiger returned to Southeast Asia in January 1971 and served as a C-7A aircraft commander and instructor pilot at the 457th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 483 Airlift Wing, Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam. For the next three year, September 1971 through August 1974, he was an intelligence support project officer for F-15 and A-10 weapons systems and the Airborne Warning and Control System at Headquarters, Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. In June 1975, he completed the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell, Alabama, as a distinguished graduate.
For the next two years, he was the Operations Officer for the 644th Bombardment Squadron and 410th Bombardment Wing a K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan. Moving to Headquarters, Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, in September 1977, he served as a Combat Operations Planner, Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans, and the Deputy Director for the Single Integrated Operational Plan, Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff.
In January 1980, became Commander, 325th Bombardment Squadron and later the Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations for the 92nd Bombardment Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. General Habiger graduated from the National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. in June 1982. His next tour of duty took him to the Pentagon where he as Chief, Strategic Offensive Forces Division, Deputy Directorate for Force Development, Directorate of Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations at Headquarters U.S. Air Force. From April to October 1983, he moved into the Deputy Assistant Director position for Plans and Operations. Still at the Pentagon, General Habiger also served as the Executive Officer for the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff until August 1984. His next assignment was to Minot Air Force Base, N.D. where he was Vice Commander of the 5th Bombardment Wing in August 1984. In that position until January 1986, when he assumed command of the 2nd Bombardment Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Returning to Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska in January 1987, he served as the Strategic Air Command Inspector General.
In January 1988, he transferred back to the Pentagon as Deputy Director, and later Director, Programs and Evaluation, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs and Resources, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. During this assignment, he also served as the Chairman of the Program Review Committee, the Air Force Board, and led the USAFŐs 1991 Base Closure and Realignment activities. In August of 1991 he became Vice Commander, Air Education and Training Command, with headquarters at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at Headquarters U.S. Air Force Washington, D.C. in April 1995. General Habiger assumed command of Strategic Command in February 1996 and retired from active duty in August 1998.
General Habiger's military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Cluster, Humanitarian Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.
General Habiger and his wife, Barbara, have two sons, Karl and Kurt.
