USAFA Class Heritage

Resigned Capt Air Force: P: 

98-01: V-Pres (President) (Vice President) Electronic Commerce Briggs&Stratton;

96-98: CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Powarcom-2000, Briggs&Stratton;

89-95: V-Pres (President) (Vice President) Sa/es&Service Briggs&Stratton MilwaukeeWI;

85-89: V-Pres (President) (Vice President) QualityAssurance Briggs&Stratton MilwaukeeWI;

82-85: DirMfg GE (General Electric) Ca/ma SanJoseCA;

78-82: V-PresOpns BM (Ballistic Missile(s))/Inc FremontcA;

74-78: MgrShopOpns/MgrMfrEngrGE SanJoseCA; 7374: ProjMgr GE (General Electric) OntarioCA;

72: MgrQ/tyCon GE (General Electric) GroveCityPA;

69-70: Stu (Student) UnivOK;

66-69: Pit (Pilot) 92TFSq (Tactical Fighter Squadron) Bantwatars RAFStnUK;

65-66: Pit (Pilot) 497TFSq (Tactical Fighter Squadron) GaorgaAFB/Ubon ABTH;

63-64: PltTng (Pilot Training) LaredoAFB; 

1DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross)-8 AM (Air Medal)

Erkki Bjorn Wilhelm Aspelin was born June 27, 1941, in Oulu, Finland, to Odert Wilhelm Aspelin and Kirsti Inkiri Tiura. The family immigrated to the United States in 1946, and Erkki grew up with three brothers, Kai, Lasse, and John.

Erkki entered the Air Force Academy in the summer of 1959 and graduated in 1963 with a degree in aeronautical engineering, as a member of the Academy's first four-year graduating class. He later earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma.

Erkki flew the F-4 Phantom II as a fighter pilot, completing 125 combat missions over Vietnam and Laos. For his service he was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He also served in Europe during the Cold War from 1966 to 1969, and served as a survival instructor at the Air Force Academy.

Following his Air Force career, Erkki moved into industry, holding positions with General Electric in Pennsylvania and California, and later serving as Vice President of Quality at Briggs & Stratton Corporation in Wisconsin. He also worked as a Director at GE Calma. In his post-retirement years he remained active in business, working in real estate.

Erkki married Mary Patricia Keough on February 4, 1967. They had two sons, Erik and Mark, and three grandchildren, Klara, Neil, and Erik.

An avid outdoorsman, Erkki was a dedicated hiker, cross-country skier, trail runner, and racquetball player. He competed in numerous endurance events, including the 100-kilometer American Birkebeiner ski race, the Pikes Peak Marathon, and the Imogene Pass Run, and completed the Bataan Memorial Death March more than ten times. He climbed many of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks and summited Mount Kilimanjaro at age 68. He was also a lover of travel, classical and world music, and history and historical fiction.

Erkki Bjorn Wilhelm Aspelin died April 10, 2023, at the age of 81.