Gender

Male

Birth date

1958-9-7

Place of birth

Los Angeles CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1976-6-1, Colorado Springs CO

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Usaf

Service type

Peacetime

Unit type

Support

Units served

533rd Strategic Missile Squadron

381st Strategic Missile Wing

302nd Tactical Missile Squadron

HQ Strategic Air Command

Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff

576th Flight Test Squadron

HQ US Air Force

Military specialty

Missile Launch Officer; Plans/Programs Officer

Stationed

USA - Kansas, Arizona, Ohio, Nebraska, California, Washington D.C.; Sicily, Italy

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

AF Meritorious Service Medal

AF Commendation Medal

Joint Service Achievement Medal

Combat Readiness Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

AF Organizational Excellance Award

AF Outstanding Unit Award

Additional information

In 'Space Trace' the Air Force Space Command Magazine of May 1993 an article titled 'Top Hand' described an elite missileer program open to space operators. Excerpts relating to Major Dale Shirasago are noted:

Headquartered at Vandenberg, Top Hand is a 21-year-old national data gathering and professional develpment program for highly-qualified officers. Originally intended for missile officers, it is now open to space operations officers as the two career fields merge.

'This program is truly for people who want to be involved in the 'high ground' aspect of national security,' said Maj. Dale Shirasago, chief of Top Hand's ICBM test operations and a former Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff member. 'The data derived from operations they work on supports the national objective of strategic deterrence.'