Born in Denver, Colorado; married with three children. He received his BS from the US Naval Academy, but elected to join the Air Force. He received an MS in electrical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and an MS in public administration from George Washington University. He was selected in June 1967 USAF MOL Group 3; departed the astronaut corps on June 10, 1969 with the cancellation of the MOL Program. Thereafter he was Commander, Air Force Communications Command. Herres eventually became a four star general and ended his career as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Colin Powell.