George Jack King retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in August 1964 after serving 22 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.
During World War II he was a fighter pilot with the first all Marine Carrier Air Group operating in the Pacific. He was one of the first Marines to fly jets, and was one of the first Marines to fly jets aboard an aircraft carrier. He was assigned to the first Marine jet squadron to see combat in Korea. He flew 101 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals.
In September 1958 he led a flight in the first Transpacific Crossing of single engine jet aircraft in Naval Aviation History from Hawaii to Japan,
King served three years as Chief of the News and Magazine Branch, Headquarters Marine Corps. He is a life member of the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, the Marine Aviation Association, The Navy League and the Association of Naval Aviation. He was cofounder of the Society of Senior Aerospace Executives.
He joined Allegheny Airlines now US Air in 1964 and retired in 1986 as vice president-public affairs. He was responsible for the company's government affairs, community affairs, public relations and employee communications.
He was also vice president-public affairs of USAir Group, Inc. reporting directly to the Chairman and President. As an officer of both USAir and USAir Group, he served as company spokesman and was responsible for financial public relations.
King personally developed and implemented an initiative to obtain Community support for Allegheny Airlines Small Cities Service Program known as the Allegheny Commuter and later as USAir Express. This concept is emulated by major airlines worldwide.