Major General William B. Lynch Named To Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Hall of Fame
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP -- Maj. Gen. William B. Lynch (USAF-Ret.), the 49th adjutant general of Pennsylvania and a veteran of the Vietnam War, was inducted today into the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Hall of Fame.

A decorated pilot who flew more than 100 combat missions over North Vietnam, Lynch served as Pennsylvania adjutant general from March 1999 until March 2004.

“General Lynch’s ability to work with senior leaders from the active and reserve components made him a tremendous asset to our commonwealth and country, particularly in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks,” said Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright, Pennsylvania adjutant general. “He provided leadership to the Pennsylvania National Guard at a pivotal time, and continues to exemplify the best qualities of a true American patriot.”

A 1964 graduate of Brown University, Lynch began his Air Force career the following year. In 1968, he was assigned to the 432nd Reconnaissance Wing in Udorn, Thailand, and piloted combat missions over North Vietnam.

After serving in command positions in the Ohio National Guard, Lynch transferred to the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1984, when he was named deputy commander for operations with the 112th Tactical Fighter Group, Pittsburgh. Lynch later became chief of the Current Operations Branch at the Air National Guard Support Center, where he was responsible for day-to-day flying operations for each of the 91 Air National Guard flying units in the country. He also held a command position for Air National Guard units during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-91.

Lynch was named commander in 1993 of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s Pittsburgh-based 171st Air Refueling Wing. He was appointed deputy adjutant general – air in 1995. A year later, he was promoted to the rank of major general. In 1999, he was appointed adjutant general by Gov. Tom Ridge.

Most recently, Lynch served his county as acting director of the U.S. State Department’s Iraq reconstruction team.

Among his many awards and decorations are the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Lynch and his wife, Kathleen, reside in the Hazleton area.

The DMVA Hall of Fame, established in 1998, recognizes unique and exemplary contributions to the department and/or to the Pennsylvania National Guard. This award not only recognizes significant achievements, but also the honor and prestige an individual has brought upon the department, the Pennsylvania National Guard and Pennsylvania veterans. Election into the Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the department.

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