▁strateg ic ▁plans . ▁He ▁was ▁assigned ▁as ▁deput y ▁director ▁for ▁operations ▁( str ateg ic ▁and ▁general ▁operations ), ▁J oint ▁Staff , ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 7 5 . ▁In ▁September ▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁he ▁assumed ▁duty ▁as ▁command ant ▁of ▁the ▁Air ▁Command ▁and ▁Staff ▁College . ▁Nich ol son ▁became ▁vice ▁commander , ▁Fif teenth ▁Air ▁Force , ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 9 7 8 . ▁ ▁Nich ol son ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁major ▁general ▁April ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 7 7 , ▁with ▁date ▁of ▁rank ▁December ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 7 3 . ▁ ▁He ▁became ▁director ▁of ▁Def ense ▁M apping ▁Agency ▁on ▁July ▁ 1 9 7 9 ; ▁till ▁his ▁ret irement ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 9 8 1 . ▁He ▁retired ▁on ▁July ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 8 1 . ▁ ▁Acc ol ades ▁Nich ol son ' s ▁military ▁decor ations ▁and ▁awards ▁include : ▁ ▁Leg ion ▁of ▁Mer it ▁with ▁o ak ▁leaf ▁cluster ▁ ▁Dist ingu ished ▁F lying ▁Cross ▁ ▁Air ▁Medal ▁with ▁o ak ▁leaf ▁cluster ▁ ▁Air ▁Force ▁Comm end ation ▁Medal ▁with ▁two ▁o ak ▁leaf ▁clusters ▁ ▁Army ▁Comm end ation ▁Medal ▁ ▁President ial ▁Unit ▁C itation ▁em blem ▁ ▁Republic ▁of ▁Korea ▁President ial ▁Unit ▁C itation . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : 1 9 2 6 ▁birth s ▁Category : L iving ▁people ▁Category : Un ited ▁States ▁Air ▁Force ▁gener