Supporters of the Martin Institute

John O. Gray

John Gray (right) in the ROTC program at the University of Idaho

John Gray was commissioned a second lieutenant out of the ROTC program at the University of Idaho in June, 1941.  For most of World War II, he was assigned to headquarters of the Eighth Air Force in England, before moving on to Headquarters United States Air Force Europe in November, 1945.  Relieved from active duty in April, 1946, Gray returned to the UI and completed a degree in business in 1949.  The USAF recalled him to active duty during the Korean Conflict (1951-1953), after which he spent four years as the Reserve Forces Liaison Officer with the USAF Office of Information.  In February, 1957, Gray became a member of the Air Force Reserve, where he remained until retiring in 1977.  During this era, he was recognized for outstanding and efficient leadership, leading to a series of promotions that culminated with his promotion to brigadier general.  Much of this time was spent as the Director of Information for the Secretary of the Air Force in Washington, DC, and as a member of the USAF Headquarters Command Air Reserve Policy Council.

Brigadier general Gray served two terms as president of the Air Force Association (AFA). The career of B/G Gray with the AFA remains unmatched.  During his years as a senior staff officer, he helped guide the AFA towards its current structure.  Although he retired from the AFA in 1986, the Association's elected board took the unprecedented step of calling him back into service as the executive director (1987-1988).  He again retired to serve as a consultant to the AFA, only to be called back to reassume the top leadership spot (1989-1990).  One of his main innovations at this time was launching the AFA's defense white paper program to advise government officials on key defense issues.