Paul W. Tibbets IV

Paul W. Tibbets IV
Brigadier General Paul Tibbets IV in 2014
Born	Montgomery, Alabama
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1989–
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands held	393d Bomb Squadron 509th Bomb Wing
Battles/wars	Operation Allied Force Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom
Awards	Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (3) Air Medal (2) Air Force Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal Air Force Achievement Medal (3) Combat Readiness Medal (5)
Relations	Paul Tibbets (grandfather) Angelle Tibbets (wife) Avery Tibbets (daughter) Paul Tibbets V (son)

Paul Warfield Tibbets IV is a United States Air Force brigadier general. He is the grandson of Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., the pilot of the aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945. He was the Deputy Director for Nuclear Operations in the Global Operations Directorate of the United States Strategic Command, where he was responsible for the nuclear mission of the nation's ballistic missile submarines, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and strategic bombers. During his career he has participated in Operation Allied Force in the Balkans, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and is one of the few pilots qualified to fly all three of the USAF's strategic bombers, the Rockwell B-1 Lancer, Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. In June 2015, he assumed command of the 509th Bomb Wing.

Paul Warfield Tibbets IV is the grandson of Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., the pilot of the aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945. He grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, and was inspired to join the United States Air Force (USAF) not by his famous grandfather but by his father, Paul W. Tibbets III, a pharmacist and hospital administrator who served in the United States Army Reserve, retiring as a colonel. "When I was in 9th grade," he recalled "I became involved in youth service projects. It was a passion of mine to serve. My father said 'You seem to be very interested in serving – what do you want to do with your life?' I told him I was interested in serving, and he told me to look into something like the ROTC or service academies."