Lucius Theus was born in Madison County, Tennessee, on October 11, 1922. Not much is known about his life. However, it is known that he was the third black Major General in the United States Air Force.[1]
Theus began his military career as a private in the Army Air Corps. He was a Tuskegee Airman whose career took him to such places as Tuskegee, Germany, Greece, France, and Vietnam. He worked in the Air Force Accounting and Finance Center, and was held an Assistant Directorship of the Defense Secretary Assistance Agency.[2]
While still in the military, Theus attended the University of Maryland, where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1956. He also earned his master’s degree in administration at George Washington University in 1957.[3]
For most of his career, Lucius Theus developed and implemented administrative systems to improve the life of the average airman and soldier. Some of these programs included direct deposit for military payrolls and better human relations. He also worked in the Pentagon, where he chaired the interservice task force where his recommendations led to a Department of Defense-wide race relations, education, and policy development. He also helped establish the forerunner to the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute.
Theus retired from the Air Force in 1979.
[1] Farrell Evans, “6 Renowned Tuskegee Airmen,” HISTORY, January 19, 2022, https://www.history.com/news/6-renowned-tuskegee-airmen-davis-brown-mcgee.
[2] “MajGen Lucius Theus, USAF (Ret) | National Air and Space Museum,” accessed January 26, 2023, https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/majgen-lucius-theus-usaf-ret.
[3] “Air Force Link – MAJOR GENERAL LUCIUS THEUS,” February 9, 2004, https://web.archive.org/web/20040209123409/http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7368.
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