Major General Giles Vanderhoof - Class of 1959
Major General Giles Vanderhoof was born on June 21, 1941, in San Francisco, California. A year later young Giles and his family returned home to Sparks, Nevada. General Vanderhoof’s grandfather was one of the first people to come to Sparks to work on the railroad.
General Vanderhoof loved going to Sparks High. He graduated from Sparks High School in 1959. Giles was the type of kid who liked to have fun, hang out with his friends, and listen to Elvis. Giles participated in the tumbling and gymnastics class and acted in the play “Barrettes of Browning Street.”
After high school, General Vanderhoof completed Squadron Officer School, Air Command and College Staff, and Air War College, all by correspondence. General Vanderhoof maintained a 3.6 GPA. In 1968, he was assigned as the Non-Commissioned Officer in charge of major military personnel and held the distinction of being the youngest Master Sergeant in the Air Force at the time. In 1969, General Vanderhoof was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nevada Air National Guard. In 1981, he became the State Director of Personnel and the Air Technician Executive Support Staff Officer. In 1984, General Vanderhoof was assigned as the Base Commander at the Reno Air National Guard Base. In 1986, General Vanderhoof was promoted to Colonel and assigned to the position of Deputy Commander, Headquarters, Nevada Air National Guard. In 1991, General Vanderhoof was placed as the U.S. Property and Fiscal Officer for Nevada. In 1995, he was assigned as the Chief of Staff of the Nevada Air Guard and he was appointed Assistant Adjutant General and Commander, Nevada Air National Guard in 1997. Also in 1997, General Vanderhoof was promoted to Brigadier General. On January 1, 2001, General Vanderhoof was appointed the Adjutant General of Nevada. A few of his medals include the Legion of Merit with one device, Meritorious Service Medal with three devices, Air Force Commendation Medal with four devices, and Army Commendation Medal with two devices. General Vanderhoof resides in Sparks with his wife, Linda Vanderhoof. He enjoys spending time with his grandchildren.
Inducted 2003
