The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Colonel Joseph Francis Shanahan (AFSN: FR-17478814), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Assistant Chief, Training Evaluation Division, 3400th Technical Training Wing; Director of Personnel, 3415th Air Base Group; Deputy Base Commander, 3415th Air Base Group, Lowry Technical Training Center, Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado, from 15 June 1977 to 23 May 1981. In these important assignments, the outstanding professional skill, leadership, and exceptional foresight consistently demonstrated by Colonel Shanahan resulted in significant contributions to the effectiveness and success of the entire Lowry Technical Training Center mission and to major improvements in the welfare and quality of life of the entire base community. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Shanahan reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit to Colonel Joseph Francis Shanahan (AFSN: FR-17478814), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander, 3330th Technical Training Wing, and Vice Center Commander, Chanute Technical Training Center, Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, and Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff/Technical Training, Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, from 1 June 1981 to 5 January 1987. In these key positions, the leadership, exemplary foresight, and tireless efforts consistently demonstrated by Colonel Shanahan resulted in the refinement, restructuring, and expansion of Air Training Command’s role in support of Air Force training needs. He was instrumental in raising the standards and the quality of the Technical Training school graduates. He initiated procedures to get modern training equipment; revised curriculum and training programs, instituted quality enhancement procedures and guided numerous programs which have measurably improved Air Force technical training, and thereby combat readiness. Colonel Shanahan’s initiatives will have far-reaching, positive effects for many years to come. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Shanahan reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.