Michael C. Kerby, MGen, USAF-(Ret)
January 27, 1937 ~ November 23, 2022
Michael (Mike) Charles Kerby passed away of natural causes, on Nov 23, 2022, age 85. He is preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Joan Claire Niessen and his brother, Robert Lee Kerby.
Mike was born in 1937, in New York City, to Robert Judge Kerby and Sarah Skehan Kerby.
He attended Georgetown University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1958, and was a distinguished graduate of Air Force ROTC while finding time to win the Straight Pool championship. He met Joan, marrying her after graduation, and attending graduate classes at Columbia University in 1959. He also earned a Master of Arts degree in government and international studies from the University of Notre Dame in 1979.
Mike retired from the Air Force as a Major General in 1991, following 31 years of distinguished service. After completing advanced fighter and weapons delivery training in F-100s at Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, and Nellis AFB, Nevada, Mike was assigned to the 417th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as an F-100 pilot. In 1965, he was assigned as an F-100 Flight Commander with the 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron, England AFB, Louisiana. In 1966, he deployed with the squadron to Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. He flew over 350 combat hours in Southeast Asia, and over his career, logged over 4,000 hours in fighter aircraft, including F-100s, A-1Hs, F-4Es, F-5s, F-111s, F-15s and F-16s.
He served in several leadership positions in the Air Force including Vice Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces, headquartered at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, Director, Air Force Legislative Liaison at the Pentagon, Commander of the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing at Nellis AFB, Nevada, which included the Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Red Flag, fighter weapons test, evaluation and tactics development, adversary threat training, the Aggressors, and the Thunderbirds; Operations Officer for the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, Commander of the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron and as Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations with the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, Vice Commander of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah, and Commander of the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, Nellis AFB. He was an Instructor Pilot at the Air Force Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB, before flying Solo pilot for the Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, first in the F-100 then in the F-4E Phantom.
His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Air Gallantry Medal with gold wings, and Republic of Vietnam Air Service Medal.
After his retirement from the Air Force, he continued his career as Vice President of Washington Operations for Grumman Corporation and as Vice President of Washington Operations for the Raytheon Company.
He is survived by his second wife, Ann, his son, Mike Jr and daughter-in-law Jill; daughter Kathy and son-in-law Tom; and son Kevin and daughter-in-law Lisa and his grandchildren Lauren, Michael III, Claire, Ryan and Hannah.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel followed by internment with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to Capital Caring Hospice, 3180 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 500, Falls Church, VA 22042 or at www.capitalcaring.org.
Mike was born in 1937, in New York City, to Robert Judge Kerby and Sarah Skehan Kerby.
He attended Georgetown University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1958, and was a distinguished graduate of Air Force ROTC while finding time to win the Straight Pool championship. He met Joan, marrying her after graduation, and attending graduate classes at Columbia University in 1959. He also earned a Master of Arts degree in government and international studies from the University of Notre Dame in 1979.
Mike retired from the Air Force as a Major General in 1991, following 31 years of distinguished service. After completing advanced fighter and weapons delivery training in F-100s at Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, and Nellis AFB, Nevada, Mike was assigned to the 417th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as an F-100 pilot. In 1965, he was assigned as an F-100 Flight Commander with the 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron, England AFB, Louisiana. In 1966, he deployed with the squadron to Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. He flew over 350 combat hours in Southeast Asia, and over his career, logged over 4,000 hours in fighter aircraft, including F-100s, A-1Hs, F-4Es, F-5s, F-111s, F-15s and F-16s.
He served in several leadership positions in the Air Force including Vice Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces, headquartered at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, Director, Air Force Legislative Liaison at the Pentagon, Commander of the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing at Nellis AFB, Nevada, which included the Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Red Flag, fighter weapons test, evaluation and tactics development, adversary threat training, the Aggressors, and the Thunderbirds; Operations Officer for the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, Commander of the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron and as Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations with the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, Vice Commander of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah, and Commander of the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, Nellis AFB. He was an Instructor Pilot at the Air Force Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB, before flying Solo pilot for the Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, first in the F-100 then in the F-4E Phantom.
His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Air Gallantry Medal with gold wings, and Republic of Vietnam Air Service Medal.
After his retirement from the Air Force, he continued his career as Vice President of Washington Operations for Grumman Corporation and as Vice President of Washington Operations for the Raytheon Company.
He is survived by his second wife, Ann, his son, Mike Jr and daughter-in-law Jill; daughter Kathy and son-in-law Tom; and son Kevin and daughter-in-law Lisa and his grandchildren Lauren, Michael III, Claire, Ryan and Hannah.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel followed by internment with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to Capital Caring Hospice, 3180 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 500, Falls Church, VA 22042 or at www.capitalcaring.org.
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Dear Ann and family,
I am sorry to read of Mike’s passing. I remember first meeting Mike in the summer of 2010. Arnie, a good friend of mine and also a retired Air Force officer, was working with Mike on the family taxes and had just told Mike that he was retiring from the tax business and was moving to Arizona. Mike was disappointed to hear that but as I was working nearby he asked me if I had “room on my dance ticket “ to take on another client. I said that I did indeed and we worked together on the family taxes for the next 10 years until my retirement. I always looked forward to spending a couple of hours with Mike and Ann as we were wrapping things up each year.
My best to you Ann and the rest of the family. I know you must miss him terribly.
Jane
RIP Mike.
Ann, Honor and I are deeply saddened to learn of Mike’s passing We truly enjoyed getting to know him and enjoying his wonderful sense of humor. We remember fondly meeting you both for brunch at ANCC. Our sympathy goes out to you Ann and to Mike’s family. MG (Ret) Bill and Honor Farmen.
“The Banks Family always felt that Mike was one of their closest friends. He spent many great days with the family playing golf and spending time together. Mike will never be forgotten by us and he will always be in our thoughts. We will miss him greatly.”
Ronald Banks
We add our condolences to Gen Kerby’s family on this sad occasion. I had the honor to serve with Gen Kerby when was the Director, Air Force Legislative Liaison. I vividly recall how he handled a complaint from several Congressional staffers who were asking to schedule an appointment with the Secretary of the Air Force. With good humor and offering sage advice, Gen Kerby told me that he would take care of the staffers and, with a wink, to continue doing what I was doing. He was an inspiration to the men and women who served with him. Col (Ret) Jim Sullivan
Michael and Joan were friends in Class 61-D Blessings and love, Dick and Joan Wagner
My condolences to the Kerby Family. I know your children miss you so much and You were always deeply loved by all of them. Please RIP