Maj. Gen. Benjamin Jepson Webster was born in New Haven, Conn. on April 4, 1911 and moved with his family to Hawaii in 1914. Upon his graduation from Punahou School in 1928, he was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in the Class of 1932 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps. 

LWebster’s initial assignment was with the 64th Coast Artillery in Hawaii where he served until entering pilot training at Randolph Field, Texas in the fall of 1932. He received his pilot wings at Kelly Field in 1933 and today he is rated a command pilot. 

After graduation from flight school, Webster returned to Hawaii to serve with the 6th Pursuit Squadron. In June of 1937, he began a three year tour as a flight instructor at the Advanced Flying School, Kelly Field, Texas. Webster then served as a physics instructor at the United States Military Academy from 1940 until early 1942. 

In February of 1942, Webster was named Director of Flying and Base Operations Officer at Stewart Field, N.Y. He subsequently served there as Director of Training until departing for overseas in the fall of 1943. 

Upon arrival in the European Theater in December 1943, Webster was named Executive Officer of the 67th Fighter Wing, Eight Air Force. He became Acting Chief of Staff, VIII Fighter Command in August 1944 and two months later assumed command of the VIII Fighter Command. 

In June of 1945, Webster returned to the U.S. and assumed command of Stewart Field, N.Y., which he commanded until August 1947, at which time he entered the Air War College, Maxwell Field, Ala. He graduated the following June and was named Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations of the 7th Air Division in Hawaii, becoming Director of Operations and Training of the Pacific Air Command there three months later. 

In July of 1949, Webster was ordered to Air Force Headquarters, Washington D. C., where he was designated Deputy Director of Program Standards and Cost Control in the office of the Comptroller. He was subsequently named Director of Management Analysis. 

After attending the National War College in 1952, Webster was named Chief of the Air Force Group, Joint American Military Mission for Aid to Turkey, with duty station in Ankara, Turkey. 

On Sep. 1, 1955 he assumed command of the 30th Air Division (Defense) at Willow Run Air Force Station, Mich. In January of 1957, he assumed additional duty as Commander of the 30th Continental Air Defense Division, also at Willow Run, Mich. 

In August of 1957, Webster was ordered to the Pentagon again, this time to serve as Director of Programs, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Headquarters USAF. 

In July of 1960, Webster was assigned to Headquarters Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, Colorado Springs, Colo., as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. The following year, on June 8, 1961, he became Chief of Staff, Air Defense Command. 

On January 1, 1964, he assumed command of Allied Air Forces, Southern Europe, with the rank of lieutenant general. 

Webster was retired on October 31, 1966. 

Governor John A. Burns appointed Webster the Adjutant General, State of Hawaii, on Dec. 3, 1966 and he was sworn into office on Dec. 5, 1966. As State Adjutant General, General Webster holds the rank of major general and heads the Department of Defense, State of Hawaii. In this capacity, he commands the Hawaii National Guard (Army and Air), is Director of State Civil Defense, and is a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. 

Webster and his wife, the former Barbara Ann Adams of Bronxville, N.Y., have two sons, John Adams who is a Captain, USAF, and Thomas Benjamin. 

Education 

• Graduate of Punahou School 1928 
• Graduate of U.S. Military Academy 1932 
• Advanced Flying School, Kelly Field 1933 
• Air War College 1948 
• National War College 1952

Service Dates

Jul 28	Jun 32	Cadet, U.S. Military Academy
Oct 32	Jun 33	Flying School, Randolph Field, Texas
Jun 33	Oct 33	Flying School, Kelly Field, Texas
Nov 33	Apr 37	6th Pursuit Squadron, Wheeler Field, Hawaii
May 37	Jun 40	Instructor, Pursuit Section Kelly Field, Texas
Jul 40	Feb 42	Instructor, Dept. of Physics, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
Feb 42	Nov 43	Director of Flying and Director of Training Stewart Field, N.Y.
Dec 43	May 45	VIII Fighter Command, England and Belgium
Jun 45	Aug 47	Commander, Stewart Field, N.Y.
Sep 47	Jun 48	Student, Air War College, Maxwell Field, Ala.
Jun 48	Sep 48	Assistant Chief of Staff, A-3, Hq., 7th Air Division, Honolulu, Hawaii
Sep 48	Jul 49	Director of Operations and Training, Pacific Air Command, Honolulu, Hawaii
Jul 49	Jul 51	Deputy Director, Program Standards and Cost Control, Headquarters, USAF, Washington, D. C.
Jul 51	Apr 52	Director, Program Standards and Cost Control, Headquarters, USAF, Washington, D. C.
Apr 52	Aug 52	Director of Management Analysis, Headquarters, USAF, Washington, D. C.
Aug 52	Dec 52	Student, National War College, Ft. McNair, D.C.
Feb 53	Jul 55	Chief, Air Force Group, Joint American Military Mission for Aid to Turkey, Ankara, Turkey
Jul 55	Aug 57	Commander, 30th Air Division (Defense), Willow Run Air Force Station, Mich.
Aug 57	Jun 60	Director of Programs, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Headquarters, USAF, Washington, D.C.
Jul 60	Jun 61	Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, Colo.
Jun 61	Dec 63	Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, Colo.
Jun 64	Dec 66	Commander, Allied Air Forces, Southern Europe
Oct 66	Present	Adjutant General, State of Hawaii

Decorations and Medals

• Air Medal, 1944 
• Legion of Merit, 1945; OLC 1963 
• Distinguished Service Medal, 1966 Army Commendation Medal, 1946 
• American Defense Medal, 1942 
• EAMECM, 1944 
• AMERCM, 1943 
• VMWWII, 1945 
• MATDEFSM, 1951 
• Croix de Guerre,1944 

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