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 Major General Robert Minter Alexander, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States. General Alexander distinguished himself as Assistant Chief of Staff, Studies and Analysis; Commander, Air Force Center for Studies and Analysis; and Director of Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia, from 12 June 1988 to 29 July 1991. General Alexander’s outstanding leadership during a period of epochal change was directly responsible for some of the most outstanding achievements in the history of the United States Air Force. His keen, analytical skills profoundly benefited virtually every major weapon system and force structure decision facing the Air Force. The vision of a paradigm for air power he developed will carry the Air Force into the twenty-first century and beyond, and is becoming a reality through the reshaping of outmoded concepts and doctrines. During the Gulf Crisis of 1990 – 1991, his aggressive leadership and strategic insight were instrumental in providing outstanding support to the Operation DESERT STORM Air Campaign, an operations plan whose complexity and decisiveness culminated in the greatest achievement of American air power since the strategic bombing campaigns of World War II. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Alexander reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.