From May 1968 to January 1971 Rutherford was the operations staff officer, Airspace and Air Traffic Control Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters Air Training Command, at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas. From January 1971 to July 1971, he earned a degree from the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. Between July 1971 and May 1972, he was the staff officer, Colonels Group, directorate of personnel, at the Headquarters of the United States Air Force, Washington, D.C.. During the period between June 1972 and May 1973, he was the chief, critical skill management division, Colonels Group, Directorate of Personnel, Headquarters of the United States Air Force, Washington, D.C. From May 1973 to February 1975, he acted as the chief, Regular General Officer Assignment Division, Directorate of Personnel, Air Force Headquarters. Between February and September 1975, he was a T-38 instructor pilot and commander of the 71st Flying Training Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. From September 1975 to July 1978, Robert served as the deputy commander for operations, 38th Flying Training Wing; assistant deputy commander for operations, 347th Tactical Fighter Wing; commander, 339th Tactical Fighter Squadron; commander, 347th Combat Support Group at Moody. Between August 1978 to July 1979, he attended the Air War College at Maxwell. In 1979, he earned a master's degree in business administration at Auburn University.
1980s
From July 1979 to June 1980, Rutherford served as the deputy colonel for operations, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. He then served as the vice commander, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing; commander, 18th Tactical Fighter Group; commander, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan between June 1980 and August 1982. For the next year, beginning in September 1982, Robert served as vice commander, Air Force Military Personnel Center, and assistant deputy chief of staff for military personnel at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Between September 1983 and January 1985, he was the commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service, and deputy chief of staff for recruiting, Headquarters Air Training Command at Randolph. Between January 1985 and March 1987, he was the deputy director of programs and evaluation, director of manpower and organization, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Resources, at Air Force headquarters. In 1986, he graduated from the National and International Security Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. From March 1987 to April 1988 Rutherford served as the deputy chief of staff for operations, and deputy director of operations for the European Air Combat Operations Staff, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, West Germany. During the time period from April 1988 to October 1989, he was the commander of the 17th Air Force, Allied Sector Three, and Allied Tactical Operations Center, at Sembach Air Base, West Germany. From October 1989 to May 1991 Robert was the deputy chief of staff for programs and resources, deputy chief of staff for productivity and programs, at the Headquarters of the United States Air Force.
