Vance R. Wanner Memorial Award
1998 Recipient
Citation
Military operations research contributes
effectively to the nation’s security to the degree that it
meets the evolving needs of defense and conforms to the highest
standards of scientific quality and timeliness. To grant
recognition to individual practitioners who have made outstanding
contributions to the progress of this advancing profession, The
Military Operations Research Society has established the Vance R.
Wanner Memorial Award. The Directors of MORS have selected,
for this award in 1998:
Larry D. Welch
Who has applied a rare combination of vision,
leadership and analytical expertise to our most urgent and
persistent national security problems. The principles of military
analysis and the associated ethics has been an integral part of
his leadership roles at the highest level of each of the
organizations he has served.
His career in the Air Force started in 1953 and
culminated in 1986 when he became Chief of Staff of the Air
Force. It continues with his visionary leadership of the
Institute for Defense Analyses, together with his broad-ranging
contributions to the national security community overall. In the
late 1960’s he developed the Air Force’s first
air-to-air combat model and used it to help define the F-15
program. His support of the Military Operations Research Society
includes articles of effective analysis and presenting the
keynote at a Symposium.
His understanding of military operations has
led others to seek his counsel, as is evidenced by his leadership
and membership on numerous appointed national-level advisory
boards and commissions.
His interests and influence have extended to
the highest levels of our government, always marked by an
objective and analytically sound basis. For his entire
multifaceted career he has been a significant force in advising
and shaping the national security agenda, both from a military
and a civilian perspective.
General Welch’s dedication to country,
visionary leadership, personal integrity and dedication to
quality analysis exemplifies the spirit and ideals of the Vance
R. Wanner Memorial Award.
