The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant General Robert Duane Beckel, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States. General Beckel distinguished himself as Commander, FIFTEENTH Air Force, March Air Force Base, California, from 5 February 1990 to 30 June 1992. During this period, General Beckel’s outstanding achievements and his dynamic leadership and initiative resulted in the superbly executed deployment of assigned B-52 bombers and KC-135 air refueling tankers to support Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. These forces were instrumental in providing the critical air refueling bridge to deploy additional Air Force personnel and aircraft, as well as units from other services, to the Persian Gulf. During Operation DESERT STORM, Fifteenth Air Force bombers provided crucial support to the theater commander, crushing the resolve of the elite Iraqi Republican Guard. Under General Beckel’s guidance his command developed an extremely innovative plan to reorganize all Strategic Air Command air refueling assets to address lessons learned from the Southwest Asian conflict and the changing world order after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Beckel culminate a long and distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.