A native of Chicago, IL, Colonel Mead was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program and awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Illinois in February 1967. He was enrolled in American University's Masters program in Political Public Relations in April 1975, when President Gerard R. Ford personally selected him to be his Air Force Aide. His military education includes Undergraduate Pilot Training, an Air Staff Training Assignment, Squadron Officer School, the Central Flight Instructor's Course (EC/RC/KC-135), the Air War College, and Joint Professional Military Education Phase II at the Armed Forces Staff College. He was selected on the first USAF board as a Joint Staff Officer.

Colonel Mead has served in a variety of operational and staff assignments, including six previous joint military tours, and also has experienced diverse opportunities in industry and politics during a four and a half year leave from active duty. He began his flying career as a KC-135 copilot at Grissom AFB, IN, and won the Distinguished Flying Cross over Vietnam three months after reporting to his initial flying assignment. In June 1970, he was selected for the SAC Spotlight Program and assigned to the Headquarters Strategic Air Command Future Concepts Division, with additional duties as the speechwriter to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief and the Commander-in-Chief of SAC. From mid-1971 to mid-1973, he was a RC-135 Aircraft Commander with the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Offutt AFB, NE. In July 1973, he was reassigned as an Air Operations Staff Officer to COMUSMACV/7th Air Force at Nakhon Phenom RTAFB, Thailand. Returning to the United States, he was reassigned to Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, with the Assistant Chief of Staff, Studies and Analysis.

He was subsequently selected in April 1975, with eight years of service, to become the U.S. Air Force Aide to the President of the United States.

Colonel Mead (then a Captain) separated from the USAF on January 20, 1977 to assist President Ford in his retirement, and subsequently went to work for former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld at G.D. Searle & Co., Chicago, IL, first as Manager of Executive Recruiting & Corporate Personnel, and then as Manager of Acquisitions & Divestitures. After assisting with the divestitures of 32 subsidiaries from G.D. Searle & Co., he left the corporation for political pursuits in mid-1979, as a political consultant for local and national candidates.

Colonel Mead accepted a recall to active duty as a Major in June 1981, and was assigned as an Instructor Pilot/Flight Commander in EC-135s at Grissom AFB, IN. In July 1984, he was reassigned to the Operations Plans Branch, U.S. European Command, where he was directly involved in over 30 crisis actions/contingency operations. He then lectured extensively at JCS-sponsored forums on joint/crisis action planning and covert operations. In 1988, he was reassigned as the Chief of the Special Activities Division and primary advisor to the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Space Command for matters relative to national and NATO war plans. In August 1992, Colonel Mead was assigned to the Armed Forces Staff College as an instructor for O-6 and O-6 selectees in the Senior Program. On Jul 1, 1993, he assumed duties as the Dean, Joint and Combined Warfighting School at the college. In April 1994, he was appointed as the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Professor of Military Studies by General Shalikashvili. He later joined the Air Mobility Command staff in September 1995, and served as the Chief, Privatization and Outsourcing until his retirement on March 1, 1999.

Colonel Mead flew 81 combat missions and over 100 combat-support missions during the Vietnam Conflict and the Cold War in KC-135 and RC-135 aircraft. Awards and decorations, which he has received, include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with OLC), the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal (with 2 OLCs), the USAF Commendation Medal (with OLC) and the Joint Service Achievement Medal. He was also permanently awarded the Presidential Service Badge by the 38th President of the United States.

Colonel Mead is married to the former Marilyn Apfel of Chicago, IL, and they have two sons, Dr. Charles Ian Mead, and Rennie F. Mead.