William O. McCabe, (1941-2023) Col. USAF (Ret.), Hockessin, had three distinct and significant aviation careers during which he accrued 4,200 flight hours; 25 years in the USAF; 16 years with the DuPont Company as executive in charge of its aviation/aerospace businesses and flight operations; and, for six years as CEO of his own aviation/aerospace consulting firm.
Bill McCabe's military flying included 100 combat, missions in F-4C fighters and some 16 decorations and awards including the Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross; and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Device. His extensive Air Force experience includes strategic bombardment combat readiness in varied command positions. As Chief, Aircrew Training, for the former Strategic Air Command (SAC), he materially enhanced the Command's combat effectiveness. As the chief operating officer-equivalent of a B-52 bombardment wing, he planned, coordinated and executed management policies for the 4,500-person organization with capital assets of $1.8 billion. He served as the Pentagon spokesperson for the $20 billion B-1B bomber program and, as Director of Combat Plans for SAC, led a joint Air Force/Navy staff in developing integrated opera-tional plans for the nation's strategic nuclear forces.
Bill served as the DuPont senior representative with the Aerospace Industries Association of America, and was a member of the Board of Governors and a past chairman of its Civil Aviation Council. He was a member of the international board of governors of the nonprofit Flight Safety Foundation and a member of the board of directors of the nonprofit Delaware Aerospace Education Foundation.
