Major General William S. Chen is the first Chinese American to achieve the rank of Major General in the U.S. Army. As a Brigadier General, Major General Chen played a crucial role in developing and acquiring state-of-the-art military technology.

While serving as the U.S. Army Missile Command Commanding General at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, from 1989 to 1992, Major General Chen's leadership was crucial in ensuring the readiness and effectiveness of missile systems deployed in the largest deployment and combat use of missiles in Army history during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Bill also played an essential role in adopting missile interceptor technology for national and theater missile defense programs. He developed the Patriot Missile System and dedicated himself to missile defense, which earned him widespread recognition.

After retiring from the Army in September 1993, Major General Chen continued to serve the nation by working in the defense industry. He held leadership roles at United Defense and FNSS Defense Systems in Turkey, demonstrating his dedication to enhancing international security.

Bill has written a book on leadership: Blend-in, Stand-out. Bill is also the editor in chief of the book, Unsung Heroes: Recognizing and Honoring Chinese American World War II Veterans - Congressional Gold Medal Recipients.

Bill's father, Moon Chen joined the Flying Tigers during WWII as an American to support China. The Flying Tigers composed of pilots from the United States Army Air Corps, Navy, and Marine Corps, recruited under President Franklin Roosevelt's authority. Their mission was to bomb Japan and defend the Republic of China. Because the US wasn't in the war, they had to volunteer and attack the Japanese under a foreign banner.

Major General William S. Chen: A Chinese American’s Leadership Journey in the US Army | #147

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