Brigadier General Francis L. Hendricks

Commanding General, Army and Air Force Exchange Service

Brigadier General Hendricks Profile

The Commander

The Commander position is filled by a general officer, alternating between the Army and the Air Force.  The Commander directs the organization within the guidelines established by Congress, Department of Defense and Departments of the Army and the Air Force.  The Commander establishes corporate policy and philosophy and is responsible for all the Exchanges activities.  The Commander directs Europe & Pacific Commanding Officers, and the Senior Vice Presidents, who are the principal operating officials.

Brig. Gen. Francis L. "Fran" Hendricks is the Commander, Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Dallas, Texas. The Exchange is the 43rd largest retail company in the United States, with revenue of approximately $10 billion per year. It employs more than 43,000 civilians and provides department stores, convenience stores, gas stations, restaurants, theaters, vending and other businesses on military installations in all 50 states, five U.S. territories and more than 30 countries.

General Hendricks was born in Edmonton, Canada, and graduated from Jersey Shore Area High School, Pa., in 1974. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Criminal Justice and Political Science from Mansfield State College, Mansfield, Penn., and was commissioned into the Air Force through Officer Training School in 1980. He has served in a wide variety of assignments at the wing, air division, major command, unified command, and Air Staff levels. His commands include the Air Force Element at Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, the 355th Support Group, and the 96th Air Base Wing. His key staff positions include executive officer to the Commander, Air Education and Training Command, and senior military assistant to the acting Secretary of the Air Force. General Hendricks also served as Study Director, Sierra Bravo, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. In this capacity, he led a Secretary of the Air Force-directed study focused on designing the air base of the future. Prior to his current assignment, he served as Vice Commander for the Exchange for five years and was named one of America's Top Diversity Champions for 2012.

  • 1979 Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in political science and criminal justice administration, Mansfield State College, Mansfield, Pa.
  • 1984 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
  • 1984 Master of Science degree in systems management, University of Southern California
  • 1993 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • 1994 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
  • 2000 Master of Strategic studies degree, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • May 1980 - May 1981, executive officer to the Deputy Commander for Operations, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Clark Air Base, Philippines
  • May 1981 - July 1983, aide to the Commander, 314th Air Division, Osan Air Base, South Korea
  • July 1983 - July 1985, assistant chief, Executive Services Group; Chief, Special Activities; and assistant executive officer to the Director, Personnel Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  • July 1985 - July 1987, Chief, Customer Assistance; Chief, Career Progression; and Chief, Personnel Utilization, 554th Combat Support Group, Nellis AFB, Nev.
  • July 1987 - December 1989, Chief, Consolidated Base Personnel Office, 26th Combat Support Group, Zweibrucken AB, West Germany
  • December 1989 - August 1992, company grade adviser to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Chief, Personal Affairs Branch; Chief, Quality Force Branch; Chief, Force Management Division; and Deputy Director, Personnel Programs, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Headquarters USAFE, Ramstein AB, Germany
  • August 1992 - June 1993, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • June 1993 - January 1996, Commander, Air Force Element; Chief, Military Personnel Division; and Chief, Executive Services, Office of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
  • January 1996 - March 1997, executive officer to the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  • March 1997 - July 1999, executive officer to the Commander, Air Education and Training Command; assistant for Senior Officer Management, Directorate of Personnel, Headquarters AETC; and Deputy Commander, 12th Support Group, Randolph AFB, Texas
  • July 1999 - July 2000, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • July 2000 - July 2002, Commander, 355th Support Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
  • July 2002 - June 2004, Commander, 96th Air Base Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
  • June 2004 - March 2006, senior military assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; and senior military assistant to the acting Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  • March 2006 - June 2007, Study Director, Sierra Bravo, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Washington, D.C.
  • June 2007 - March 2012, Vice Commander, Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Dallas, Texas
  • March 2012 - Present, Commander, Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Dallas, Texas

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

  • June 1993 - January 1996, Commander, Air Force Element; Chief, Military Personnel Division; and Chief, Executive Services, Office of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a major
  • March 2006 - June 2007, Study Director, Sierra Bravo, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Washington, D.C., as a colonel and brigadier general

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • Legion of Merit Medal with two oak leaf clusters
  • Defense Meritorious Service Medal
  • Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
  • Joint Service Commendation Medal
  • Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Achievement Medal
  • Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Recognition Ribbon
  • National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
  • Korea Defense Service Medal
  • Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 1986 Air Force Outstanding Junior Personnel Officer of the Year
  • 1995 Air Force Outstanding Field Grade Personnel Officer of the Year for Joint / Departmental
  • 2004 Honorary Chief Master Sergeant
  • 2004 Honorary First Sergeant
  • 2004 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award (Senior Category), Air Force Materiel Command
  • 2012 Gen. Ira Eaker Medallion, Commanders' Professional Development, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • 2012 "Champions of Diversity Award," DiversityBusiness.com, Southport, Conn.

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

  • Second Lieutenant April 1, 1980
  • First Lieutenant April 1, 1982
  • Captain April 1, 1984
  • Major Oct. 1, 1991
  • Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 1, 1996
  • Colonel March 1, 2000
  • Brigadier General April 16, 2007

(Current as of May 2012)