The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Albert Don Jensen (AFSN: AF-18714097/FR-3192025), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States. General Jensen distinguished himself as Commander, 22d Air Refueling Wing, March Air Force Base, California, and Commander, 502d Air Base Wing, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, from 30 March 1992 to 31 October 1994. During this period, as Commander of the 22d Air Refueling Wing, General Jensen’s inspirational leadership and vision enable the wing to support United States humanitarian and peacekeeping goals worldwide under United Nations coalition forces. Operations such as RESTORE HOPE and SOUTHERN WATCH were performed with zero Class A or Class B mishaps while expertly achieving the global objectives of the United States Air Force. While assigned as Commander 502d Air Base Wing, General Jensen again provided stalwart leadership and direction to the newly restructured education support wing of Air University. His dynamic guidance in implementing all support requirements for organizational transfers from Air University to Air Education and Training Command, ensured the goals of the Air Force’s Year of Training Initiative and were achieved in minimum time. The result was no disruption of Air University professional military education operations. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Jensen culminate a distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Legion of Merit
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Distinguished Flying Cross
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Albert Don Jensen (AFSN: AF-18714097/FR-3192025), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia on 24 October 1969. On that date, Captain Jensen, upon hearing the ejection of two United States Air Force pilots in his area of operation, assumed command and quickly marked hostile gun positions to which tactical aircraft strikes were directed. Despite intense ground fire, and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, he played a major role in the recovery of a valuable Air Force team and a helicopter crew that had been forced down in hostile territory. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Jensen reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Silver Star
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders No. 886 (February 26, 1970)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Albert Don Jensen (AFSN: AF-18714097/FR-3192025), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in Southeast Asia on 10 December 1969. On that date, while flying as a Forward Air Controller, Captain Jensen directed the employment of tactical air power against a heavily defended hostile area to effect the rescue of a downed pilot. Through his courage and aggressiveness in the face of extremely heavy hostile anti-aircraft fire and deteriorating weather conditions, this rescue effort was skillfully coordinated and directed and the pilot was successfully rescued. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Jensen has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Captain Albert Don Jensen (AFSN: AF-18714097/FR-3192025), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight in an OV-10 Aircraft in Southeast Asia on 22 April 1970. On that date, while flying as a Forward Air Controller in an unarmed OV-10 aircraft, Captain Jensen directed the employment of tactical air power to the successful rescue of a downed United States Marine Corps aircraft member from one of the most heavily defended hostile areas in Southeast Asia. Through his courage and perseverance in the face of extremely intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire and marginal weather, he destroyed or silenced numerous anti-aircraft artillery positions to enable rescue aircraft to reach and extract the downed crewmember from danger in mountainous hostile territory to safety. The outstanding heroism and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Jensen reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Albert Don Jensen (AFSN: AF-18714097/FR-3192025), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia on 25 May 1970. On that date, Captain Jansen located two active, crew-served, anti-aircraft artillery sites defending a major infiltration route. Despite intense and sustained anti-aircraft fire, he directed strike aircraft ordnance against these weapons causing their destruction. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Jensen reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Albert Don Jensen (AFSN: AF-18714097/FR-3192025), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia on 20 May 1970. On that date, Captain Jensen discovered a small friendly reconnaissance patrol in violent conflict with a numerically superior hostile force. He immediately requested strike aircraft and although he was the target of intense ground fire, and adverse weather conditions, he made repeated marking passes on the hostile locations and directed airstrikes onto the hostile position. Captain Jensen was credited with 25 killed in action, 40 hostiles wounded, and numerous secondary explosions with fires. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Jensen reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
ColonelAction Date:
June 11, 1985 – February 27, 1989
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel Albert Don Jensen (AFSN: AF-18714097/FR-3192025), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Strategic Air Command Senior Controller, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, and Vice Commander and Commander, 96th Bombardment Wing (Heavy), Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, from 11 June 1985 to 27 February 1989. As a Senior Controller, Colonel Jensen was the direct representative of the Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command, for command and control of all Strategic Air Command nuclear assets, and insuring execution of two of the three legs of this nation’s nuclear war plan, the Single Integrated Operational Plan. He then combined outstanding leadership with superb technical and management guidance to make America’s newest and most advanced aircraft weapon system, the B-1B Bomber, a credible component of this nation’s strategic triad. Colonel Jensen spearheaded and brought to fruition a major Air Force milestone, the B-1B ‘s Initial Operational Capability. He prepared the 96th Bombardment wing for the initial B-1B Operational Readiness Inspection and Maintenance Standardization and Evaluation Team visit, both resulting in “Excellent” ratings. As a result of his superb leadership, the 96th Bombardment Wing made Air Force history as the first Strategic Air Command aircraft unit to successfully pass an initial Operational Readiness Inspection and the first Air Force unit to receive an overall “Excellent” rating for a new aircraft weapon system. These historic events proved to the world that the United States has the technical knowledge and national resolve to make the world’s most sophisticated bomber an operational reality. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Jensen reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.