Obituary of Major General Robert Knauff

Major General Robert A. Knauff, USAF (ret.), 61, of Cazenovia died on Saturday, May 3rd in Aguila, AZ. He was born February 3, 1953 in Pasadena, California to George and Alice (McKee) Knauff. He graduated from Bernards High School in Bernardsville, NJ in 1971 where he was a member of the State Champion Cross Country team. He graduated from the US Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering degree and earned a Masters of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He also studied at Syracuse University, USAF Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, Air War College and in the NATO Tactical Leadership Program. General Knauff served for nearly 34 years in the U. S. Air Force. His final assignment was as Commander, New York Air National Guard. He was also the Deputy Adjutant General for New York State. He served from 2006 to 2008 as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). Prior to his assignment as Commander, General Knauff was the Chief of Staff, New York Air National Guard. He supervised the Air Component personnel of Joint Force Headquarters, New York National Guard. Prior to his assignment as Chief of Staff General Knauff was the Commander of the 174th Fighter Wing, Syracuse, NY. In addition to his supervision of the F-16 organization, he was also the senior supervisor of an Air Operations Group, an Air Support Operations Squadron, and the host commander for the Eastern Air Defense Sector. Before coming to the 174th General Knauff spent nearly ten years in the New Jersey Air National Guard. He served the first ten years of his career on active duty flying F-15s and OV-10s in a number of duty locations performing various pilot duties. After his retirement in 2009, General Knauff served as the former Chief Operating Officer for the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance, LLC ("NUAIR") was an independent consultant for aerospace and defense industries specializing in US Air Force and Air National Guard programs. General Knauff was predeceased by his parents and his beloved wives Kathy Graham Knauff and Tara Howard Knauff. He is survived by his sister Christy Knauff Fitzpatrick and her husband Leo of Buena Vista, CO and Houlton, ME and 10 nieces and nephews who adored him. Funeral services will be held at 3pm on Monday, May 19th at St. James Church, 6 Green Street in Cazenovia. Burial will be in the Gerald B.H. Soloman Saratoga National Cemetery at 12pm on Tuesday. Calling hours will be held Sunday, May 18th from 1-3 at Tait Funeral Home, Inc., 2333 Fenner Road in Cazenovia. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area, CNY SPCA or the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.