USAF Bg Albert Anthony Gagliardi., Jr.

Brigadier General Albert Anthony Gagliardi, Jr., USAF, passed away on December 11, 2011, following a lengthy illness. General Gagliardi was born in 1937 in Newport, Rhode Island and attended schools there until entering the first class of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Following graduation and commissioning, he received his pilot wings in 1960 at Laredo Air Force Base and remained there as a flight instructor until transferring to Randolph AFB in 1962 in the same capacity. After entering the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1965, General Gagliardi received his M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, later serving as assistant professor of aeronautics at the Air Force Academy. From 1968 to 1969, General Gagliardi served as an F-4 pilot in Vietnam, flying 186 combat missions. Following his teaching assignment at the Air Force Academy, General Gagliardi completed Naval Command and Staff College in Newport and was subsequently assigned as operations officer for the 86th Flying Training Squadron at Laughlin AFB. Assignments followed as the Commander of the 455 Flying Training Squadron, Air War College, Commandant of the A.T.C. -N.C.O. Academy, Chief of Operations for the Training and Education Division Office of the Inspector General, and Commander of the Air Force Survival School. In 1983, General Gagliardi assumed command of the 47th Flying Training Wing at Laughlin AFB and in 1985 he returned to Randolph AFB as Inspector General. In late 1985, he became Deputy U.S. Representative to the NATO Military Committee in Brussels, Belgium and in 1987 again returned to Randolph AFB serving as Inspector General. He was medically retired from active duty in 1990. Among General Gagliardi's awards are the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. General Gagliardi is survived by his wife of 48 years, the former Katharine McMahon of San Antonio, and children, Michael Gagliardi of Birmingham, Alabama, Gina DeVane of San Antonio, and Mia Brooksmith of Schertz. Grandchildren are, Andrew Gagliardi, Megan Gagliardi, Matthew Gagliardi, Edward DeVane III, Katharine DeVane, and Bryana Brooksmith. He is also survived by two sisters, Alberta Furtado and Agnes Keeney of Newport, Rhode Island. A visitation will begin at 6:00 P.M. Sunday, December 18, 2011 at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

ROSARY

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2011

7:00 P.M.

PORTER LORING NORTH CHAPEL

MASS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2011

1:00 P.M.

HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH

8134 BLANCO RD.

Interment with Full Military Honors will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation or to the Wounded Warrior Project.