Michael Charles Short, Lieutenant General, US Air Force Retired, passed away at his home in northern Suffolk on Friday, October 27th after a battle with cancer. General Short was with family and friends when he passed away.

He was born in Princeton, New Jersey on 24 February 1944 and was the only child of Janet MacDonald Short and Charles Francis Short. At the time of his birth his father was stationed in rural England preparing for the D-Day jump into occupied France as a member of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. General Short's father committed himself to the US Army shortly after the conclusion of WWII. As an "Army Brat" General Short lived in New Jersey, North Carolina, Japan, Kentucky, Mississippi and France. He graduated from high school in France and entered the US Air Force Academy on 26 June 1961. He graduated from the Academy on 9 June 1965 and married the former Virginia Suhonen from Hibbing, Minnesota on 14 August 1965 and shortly thereafter began pilot training in Texas. Upon earning his silver wings he began a flying career focused on fighter aviation. He amassed over 4,000 flying hours and flew the F-4C, D, E, RF-4C, F-102, F-106, A-7, F-117 stealth fighter, A-10, F-15E and F-16. He flew 276 combat missions in Vietnam in the F-4 and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. His staff experience included tours at the Pentagon, Headquarters Tactical Air Command/Air Combat Command, US Atlantic Command, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and Headquarters US Air Forces Europe. His command tours included the 5th Cadet Squadron USAFA, 4th Aircraft Generation Squadron, 334th Fighter Squadron, 4450th Tactical Group (Stealth), 355th Tactical Training Wing, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 4404th Composite Wing and Allied Air Forces Southern Europe. It was in this last position that he served as the Combined Forces Air Component Commander for Operation Allied Force, the 78 day NATO bombing effort to stop the Serbian ethnic cleansing of Muslims in Kosovo. He directed over 35,000 combat sorties, losing two aircraft but no NATO airmen under his command. He retired on 1 July 2000 and began 16 years of work as an Air Force and Joint Senior Mentor focusing on the Command and Control of Airpower. His decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the AF Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, and the Air Medal with fourteen oak leaf clusters. In 1999 he was presented the Air Force Association's highest honor to a military member in the field of national security, the H.H Arnold Award for commanding the air campaign during Operation Allied Force. General Short oversaw a complex, politically constrained air operation that forced the Serbian regime to accede to NATO terms.

He is survived by his incredible wife of over 52 years, Jini; his son Brigadier General Christopher M. Short, daughter-in-law Brooke and three amazing granddaughters Emily, Rachel and Sara, and by his daughter Colonel Jennifer M. Short, son-in-law Scott Evens, wonderful grandson Jacob and adorable granddaughter Katie.

Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date not yet determined. Memorial donations may be made to the Air Warrior Courage Foundation. Husband, Father, Grandfather, Warrior, Leader, Mentor, Friend..."Lord Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly."