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Lieutenant General Winston D. Powers, Former NCS Manager, Dies

ARLINGTON, Va., February 13, 2003 - Air Force Lieutenant General Winston D. Powers, who completed a 37-year career as the Manager of the National Communications System (NCS) and Director of the Defense Communications Agency (DCA) from September 1983 to May of 1987, died on February 5 in Northern Virginia. He was 72.

Funeral services are slated for Tuesday, February 25 at the Fort Myer Post Chapel, followed by burial in Arlington National Cemetery.

General Powers, who retired from the Air Force following his NCS/DCA assignment, served as the seventh Manager of the NCS, succeeding Army Lieutenant General William J. Hilsman. He was also eighth director of the DCA – forerunner of the Defense Information Systems Agency.

His military career began in 1950 as a 19-year old enlisted airman and he served in a variety of assignments in his career. Prior to becoming the NCS Manager and DCA Director, General Powers commanded the Space Communications Division at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. While at Peterson, he also served as Chief of the Systems Integration Office, Headquarters, Aerospace Defense Center, Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, Electronics and Computer Resources for the North American Aerospace Defense Command and Aerospace Command.

During his career, General Powers received the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. He also accumulated over 4,000 flyer hours as a master navigator.

General Powers is survived by his wife, Jeanette, his daughter Diane (Powers) Nock, her husband Robert Nock and two grandchildren, and his son, Lieutenant Colonel Winston David Powers.

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