Alfred Dodd Starbird (April 28, 1912 – July 28, 1983) was an American modern pentathlete, lieutenant general, and authority on nuclear weaponry.

He was a member of the United States modern pentathlon team at the 1936 Summer Olympics, finishing seventh overall in a field of 42.

In the latter part of the war in Europe, he commanded the 1135th Engineer Combat Group, which supported the assault crossing of the Rhine, and built bridges over the Danube.

As was normal for high-ranking graduates,[6] he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

[4] Starbird, who was promoted to first lieutenant on June 12, 1936,[4] was detached to join the United States modern pentathlon team at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

[5] Returning to the United States on August 23, 1936, Starbird entered Princeton University, from which he received a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering on July 1, 1937.

[3] During World War II, Starbird was promoted to captain in the Army of the United States on September 9, 1940, and major on February 1, 1942.

[3] For Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa, he was attached to the staff of the 1st Infantry Division as the War Department observer from October 20 to November 23, 1942, for its landing at Oran.

[9][1] He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Army of the United States on November 28, 1942, and captain in the Corps of Engineers on June 13, 1943.

[2] On July 17, 1946, Starbird was posted to Hawaii as the deputy chief of staff of United States Army Pacific.

[5] His appointment as a colonel in the Army of the United States was terminated on June 30, 1947, and he reverted to his permanent rank of captain.

In December 1961, he was suddenly ordered to take command of Joint Task Force 8 and conduct the Operation Dominic series of nuclear tests.

His citation read: The success and productivity of this most complex and urgent program transcended all previous efforts in the history of United States nuclear testing and significantly enhanced the security of the nation and the free world.

[1] On June 15, 1966, he was designated commander of Joint Task Force 728, and made directly responsible to the Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara.

[17] Considered by its critics to be symbolic of McNamara's management, in that it was expensive, valued technology over experience, and was generally ineffective,[18] the barrier was never completed, and by March 1969 was shelved.