USAFA Class Histories

After graduating from the Academy, I went to UPT at Laredo AFB, TX, graduating in October 1964. Following pipeline training (nuclear weapons school, survival school, B-52 training) I was assigned to Minot AFB, ND flying B-52Hs from April 1965 through May 1968. During this time I completed a short €œArcLight Deployment€ to Anderson AFB, Guam, from September 1967 through January 1968 in B-52Ds. In June of 1968 I was assigned to Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico flying B-52Gs. In June 1970 I resigned my regular commission, accepting a permanent Reserve commission and departed extended active duty.

In August 1971, I joined an active Air Force Reserve Squadron at Westover AFB, Massachusetts and completed a local training program in the C-124 transport. In March 1972 I transferred to the 514th Associate Reserve Wing at McGuire AFB, NJ, completing C-141 transition training at Altus AFB, OK in June of that year. For the next six years I flew worldwide transport missions, accumulating approximately 4, 000 hours in the C-141A/B aircraft.

In May 1978 I accepted a position as an Air Reserve Technician IP with the 730 MASq, 445 MAWg, Norton AFB, CA. During the next eight years I worked as a squadron scheduler, Flight Examiner, Squadron Chief Pilot and numerous details as Squadron Operations Officer. I was selected as permanent Operations Officer of the 730 MASq. In March of 1986, I was temporarily assigned as the 445 MAWg Deputy Commander for Operations. In the same period I was selected to attend the Air War College in residence at Maxwell AFB, AL and returned to extended active duty to attend the school from July 1986 through May 1987.

Upon return to Norton AFB I was permanently assigned as the Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations. In October of 1988 I was selected for promotion to permanent Colonel and was assigned as the Deputy Commander for Operations of the 349th Associate Wing at Travis AFB, CA. This was an early composite organization flying both C-141B and C-5B aircraft and the largest Reserve Wing in the country at that time.

In the Autumn of 1988 a problem surfaced during my flight physical, and I went to Brooks AFB, TX in May 1989 for cardiac evaluation. This resulted in the discovery of a €œsilent heart attack€ in my recent history, permanent cardiac damage (minimal) and the end of my military Air Force and flying careers. On 1 July 1988 I was promoted to Colonel and assigned to the retired reserve.

In February 1990 I accepted a civilian Air Force Reserve position as a senior budget analyst at Travis. After a nine-month detail as the Budget Officer during Desert Storm, I was subsequently assigned to a Budget Analyst position at Reserve Headquarters, Robins AFB, GA in October 1993. In August 1995 I was assigned as the 439th MAW Comptroller, Westover AFB, MA. On March 30, 1997 I finally retired from the government service. I am still single, still looking, and still waiting for my military retirement pension at age 60! Until then I live at 31 Shadowbrook Estates, South Hadley, MA 01075-2655. Home telephone (413) 534-6132. Believe it or not, my Academy time counts in my 32 years, 10 months of Federal service. Submitted 1998.