 Blesse next served as Director of Operations for the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Force's first General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark wing at Nellis Air Force Base, from May 1968 until becoming the Wing's commander in June 1969.He was made Commander of the 831st Air Division at George Air Force Base in June 1970.During his second tour in Vietnam, he served as Assistant Director of Operations for 7th Air Force at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam from January to July 1971.