In Memoriam General James E. Dalton ‘49 USAF (Ret.)
James E. Dalton ‘49 USAF (Ret.), Brooklyn Tech Class of 1949 Four-Star USAF General
In Memoriam
The Brooklyn Tech alumni community deeply mourns the loss of Alumni Hall of Fame member General James E. Dalton, USAF (Ret.), Class of 1949, who passed away peacefully at home in Rollins, Montana, on August 4, 2024, at the age of 93. He was the only surviving child of Edward and Lorraine Dalton.
Born and raised in Flatbush, Brooklyn, James attended Brooklyn Technical High School, where he excelled academically. Following his time at Brooklyn Tech, he attended Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute before gaining an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1950. He earned his B.S. in 1953, after which he entered the U.S. Air Force and completed pilot training, marking the beginning of a 31-year military career.
General Dalton rose to the rank of four-star general, serving in numerous key roles across research, development, operations, and staff positions. His remarkable assignments included the development of operational targeting programs for ICBMs, combat and support flying in Southeast Asia, and participation on the U.S. Delegation negotiating the SALT I Arms Control Agreement.
He also commanded the 39th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing, the Air Reserve Personnel Center, and served as Vice Director of the Joint Staff for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In addition, he was Commandant of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and Chief of Staff at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE).
General Dalton's education was extensive, including two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from the University of Michigan. He was a distinguished graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
His military decorations were numerous, including three awards of the nation’s highest peacetime medal, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, as well as the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Vietnamese Service Ribbon with six campaign stars, among others.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1985, General Dalton continued to contribute to national defense as a Vice President at Logicon Inc., where he eventually became General Manager of the Defense Technology Group, overseeing more than 2,100 employees and annual sales in excess of $200 million.
General Dalton was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Pacific Council on International Policy, and the Order of Daedalians, and served as a trustee of the Falcon Foundation of the USAF Academy.
A proud member of the Brooklyn Tech Alumni Hall of Fame, General Dalton’s ties to his alma mater remained strong throughout his life. His legacy of leadership, service, and excellence continues to inspire Technites and future generations of leaders.
General James Dalton is survived by his children and grandchildren. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy of service to his country, his community, and Brooklyn Tech.
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