John A. Shaud retired from the U.S. Air Force at the rank of General in 1991 after a tour as Chief of Staff of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). As a senior officer he also served as the Air Force Director of Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff for personnel and as the Commander of Air Training Command.
General Shaud began his career as a B-47 pilot and later flew B-52s. After qualifying in the RF-4C, he was assigned to Southeast Asia on the operations staff of the 388th Tactical Fighter wing at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, and later became a flight commander with the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam.
General Shaud's command assignments included tours as Commander, 57th Air Division at Minot AFB, ND. While commanding the 57th Air Division, the general performed special missions as Commander of the Strategic Projection Force when directed by the Commander-in-Chief of Strategic Air Command. He also served in the Pentagon and taught at the Air Command and Staff College.
General Shaud graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, Class of 1956, with a Bachelor of Science degree and received his pilot rating in August 1957. He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the National War College. He also holds a master's degree from The George Washington University and a doctorate from The Ohio State University, which he received in 1971.
After retirement from the Air Force in 1991, he served as Director of the Air Force Aid Society; senior mentor for the Capstone Program, mentoring officers from all services newly promoted to flag rank; and then Executive Director of the Air Force Association from 1995 to 2002. He was the first director of the Air Force Research Institute from 2008 - 2013. Since October 2014, General Shaud has served as President of the SHAPE Officers Association.
General Shaud and his wife Beverly, reside in McLean, Virginia.