USAFA Class Histories

Colonel Grover E. Musselwhite is the AFJROTC SC-62 Aerospace Science Instructor at Rock Hill High School, Rock Hill, SC. He has been in this position since his retirement 1 September 1989.

Colonel Musselwhite was born November 16, 1939 in Fayetteville, NC. He graduated from Clinton High School in Clinton, NC. He attended Duke University from 1958-1959, and was appointed to USAFA in July 1959. He graduated 5 June 1963 with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned into the U. S. Air Force.

Colonel Musselwhite attended UPT at Reese AFB, TX from August 1963 to August 1964. His first assignment was to the 3646th PTW, Laughlin AFB, TX as a T-38 IP. He served as both a line IP and an academic instructor until January 1969. From January to August 1969 he was a F-105 pilot with the 562nd TFS, McConnell AFB, KS. From September 1969 to September 1970, he was an F-105 pilot and Assistant Chief of the Wing Fragmentary Branch at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand. He flew 128 combat missions during this tour. Upon returning to the United States, he was assigned to USAFA as an AOC until June 1973. He then served with the 561st TFS F-105G €œWild Weasels€ as a Flight Commander/Assistant Operations Officer at George AFB, CA until July 1976.

Colonel Musselwhite attended the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, from August 1976 to June 1977. He was assigned to the U.S. Military Training Mission, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, as the Deputy Chief, Joint Operations and Plans until June 1978. He then trained as an F-4G €œWild Weasel€ pilot with the 39th TFTS at George AFB, CA. While remaining at George AFB, he served as Operations Officer of the 563rd TFS and Commander of the 561st TFS until August 1981. He was assigned to Headquarters, Tactical Air Command Requirements at Langley AFB, VA until June 1984. He served first as the Chief, Program Management Division and then as Chief, Systems Management Office for the Precision Location Strike System. From July 1984 to August 1986, he was Deputy Commander for Operations of the 39th TACG, Incirlik AB, Turkey. He was then assigned as Vice Commander, 40th TACG, Aviano AB, Italy. In May 1988 he assumed command of the AFROTC Detachment 770 as Professor of Aerospace Studies at Clemson University until his retirement 1 September 1989.

Colonel Musselwhite€™s professional education includes Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College, and Industrial College of the Armed forces. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with nine Oak Leaf Clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. He is a Command Pilot with over 4, 000 hour flying time in the T-38, C-12, F-105D/F/G, F-4E/G and F-16A/B.

Colonel Musselwhite is married to the former Joan Gentles of Victorville, CA. They have six children: Lisa, Blair, Randy, Erin, Brian and Brooke, and one grandson, Garrett.  Submitted 1998.