John Lorin Borling
"JB"
Biography as of Apr 22, 2026
Major General JOHN BORLING , USAF, Ret.
Major General John Borling (USAF-ret) is a published author, poet, (Taps on the Walls, foreword by John McCain) and for five years a weekly Sunday columnist (The Third Degree). He is a graduate of The Air Force Academy, Armed Forces Staff College, The National War College and executive programs at Harvard (the JFK and Business Schools). He was a White House Fellow and, later, treasurer and director of the governing foundation and for many years a regional selection panel member. He is a sought-after speaker, commentator, keynoter and MC.
He is an investor and the lead outside director of Synthonics, a novel drug development company featuring an extended release T3 for hypothyroidism. He is also on the board of Rabine Group that has state of the art site/facility assessment capabilities plus paving and construction system services to manage/fix deficiencies or construct anew.
He founded SOS America (Service over Self), which advocates a expanded program of service for America's military.
General Borling served 33 years in worldwide, high-level command and staff positions. A highly decorated fighter pilot, his awards include: The Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Stars with V for Valor, two Purple Hearts, six Air Medals, and the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal. He has piloted many aircraft, including the F-15, Eagle, F-16, Viper, F-4, Phantom, SR-71 Blackbird, the TR1(U-2), B-52 and B-1 Bombers, Tankers and command and control aircraft.
Chicago born, the 1963 Air Force Academy graduate was shot down by ground fire deep in North Vietnam on his 97th combat mission in June 1966. Seriously injured and captured while trying to evade, he spent over six and a half years as a POW. Released in 1973, Borling reunited with his wife Myrna and daughter Lauren and soon re-qualified in fighter aircraft. A year later, daughter Megan was born. After national competition, he was selected as a White House Fellow serving in the Ford White House.
In 1976, he joined the historic First Fighter Wing, outfitting with the new F15. As an instructor pilot, operations and maintenance officer, he would command the famed “Hat-in-the-Ring” Squadron. Selected for National War College, and later, executive education at Harvard (Business and JFK Schools), his Pentagon assignments included: Chief of CHECKMATE, a classified war fighting, analysis group; and Director of Air Force Operational Requirements, championing a new family of guided weapons.
He commanded at base and fighter group level in Germany, along with key duty at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters in Belgium. Posted to Strategic Air Command (SAC) Headquarters in Omaha, NE, he was an Air Division Commander (Missile, Bomber, and Tanker Wings at Minot and Grand Forks, ND and Spokane, WA). Promoted to lead all SAC operations, he had responsibilities, inter alia, for training, readiness, force projection, nuclear and conventional warfare, including the nation's nuclear war plan.
As principal architect and Chief of Staff for Headquarters North, an integrated NATO, National and Norwegian Command, he was the senior American military officer in Scandinavia. Personally honored by King Harald V, General Borling is the only American officer to be inducted as a Commander in the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit.
After military retirement, he returned to Chicago as CEO of United Way, raising record revenue. He re-established Chicago’s Memorial Day ceremonies and helped create the first Chicago Military Academy. Life member of The Commercial Club of Chicago, he is also a Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois and recipient of The Order of Lincoln, the highest honor tendered by the state. His writing, narration and direction of the 2022, Memorial Day video "We are Americans" aired worldwide and is available online. He remains involved with numerous civic and military organizations. He and Myrna live in a hundred year old home on the Rock River in Rockford IL. They have two adult daughters, Lauren and Megan married to Kirk Sperry and Jim Durczak and two granddaughters, Kirstyn Sperry Lamphere (husband Paul) and Dylan Durczak, both in Sister Lakes Michigan where the Borling family lake cottage is located.
Contact: JLBViking@yahoo.com or John@third-degreeUS.com or John@sosamerica.org. or Cell: 602 820 3608