Stanley R. Mickelsen

Who was Stanley R. Mickelsen?

Stanley Raymond Mickelsen was an American military leader. Born in Minnesota, and a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Mickelsen joined the Army in 1917.

As a young officer Mickelsen commanded coastal artillery units, including the 74th Coast Artillery Regiment and the 47th Artillery Brigade. During World War II, he served on the War Department General Staff, but later commanded an antiaircraft brigade. In 1943, he was assigned as Commandant of the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Training Center at Fort Bliss, Texas. From 1952 to 1957 he was commanding general of the U.S. Army Air Defense Command. He retired in 1957 with the rank of Lieutenant General.

During his career the Army moved from air defense based on guns to advanced anti-aircraft missiles and anti-ballistic missile systems. The Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex, a facility for ballistic missile defense, was named in his honor.