Biography of Colonel William E. Beckner (Ret.)

Colonel Beckner was born June 18, 1941, in Sioux City, Iowa. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration-Marketing from California State University at Sacramento, California in 1963. He was awarded a Master of Arts Degree in Business Administration in 1975 from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. The Colonel graduated from Squadron Officers School in 1971, Air Command and Staff College in 1979, and the Air War College in 1983.
As a young man in 1966, Colonel Beckner, after three years of employment with International Harvester Corporation in Stockton, California, joined the United States Air Force. He was assigned to Officer Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Following completion of a follow-on course in Supply, he was assigned as a Supply Officer with the 777th Radar Squadron, Klamath Air Force Station, California. In June of 1969 he was transferred to the 640th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Stephenville, Newfoundland. In January 1970 he transferred to Thule AB, Greenland, where he assumed duties as Chief, Supply Operations. From June 1970 to September 1972 he was assigned to the 23rd Air Division Staff, Duluth IAP, Minnesota, as a Supply Staff Officer, with follow-on duties at the 4787th AB Wing as Management and Procedures Officer in Base Supply.

From September 1972 to August 1974, Colonel Beckner performed as Major Supply Command Inspector at Air Defense Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Following the assignment he was assigned to the Headquarters Logistics Plans Staff serving until April 1976. He was transferred to the 50th Supply Squadron Hahn Air Base Germany, where he performed in the capacities of Chief, Material Management Branch and Chief, Customer Support Branch.
Colonel Beckner returned to the United States in May 1979, whereupon he was assigned to Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command. Between May 1978 and July 1982 he was Chief of the Office of the Visibility and Management Operations and Support Costs (VAMOSC). During that period he was responsible for developing the singular operating and support cost collection and reporting system for the Air Force. He was selected for duty and served as Logistics Analyst, Automated Systems (ADP) Planner and, ultimately, Deputy Chief Logistics Concepts Division. Additionally, he served as Adjunct Professor for international Marketing at George Mason University and lectured at Senior Logistics schools in the United States and Great Britain as a duty from the Pentagon. He was promoted to Colonel on 1 October 1987, with same date of rank. In 1988, he retired from the United States Air Force.

His military decorations and awards include selection as HQ USAFE Outstanding Supply Junior Manager (1 Jan 77 – 1 Dec 77), Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with tree Oak Leaf Clusters and the Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon.
From 1988 through 1998, Colonel Beckner worked with Science Application International Corporation (SAIC), pursuing projects in domestic and international business marketing, management and logistics in the private and public sectors.
Colonel Beckner launched a new corporation, W.E.B. International, in 1999, handling marketing and supply projects for international clients in South Korea and Saudi Arabia. He worked closely with business partners around the world until the end of his life.

Colonel Beckner went home to be with the Lord on January 27, 2017. He will be missed by many friends and family members around the world, including his loving wife of 42 years, Carol Beckner.

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