Biography

I joined the Colorado Air Guard at Buckley AB in Colorado as an enlisted airman in April of 1967. That Summer, 1967, I attended USAF basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX. After returning to Buckley and the COANG, I trained as an aircraft mechanic and achieved a 5-level proficiency. I was recalled by the USAF for the Pueblo Crisis in January of 1968, given a direct commission in June and orders for UPT at Williams AFB near Phoenix. I graduated 5th in UPT class and was signed to Luke AFB in Arizona for transition training in the F-100.
I flew the F-100 through 1974 when the unit transitioned into the A-7, then flew the A-7 as a traditional Guardsman for 17 years, including deployments to Holland, Turkey, Canada, Panama, Honduras, and Alaska. In 1992, the unit transitioned to the F-16 and I attended training, again, at Luke for 3 months. Then it was back to Buckley ANGB (soon to be AFB) for proficiency flying in a traditional status. While there I had TDYs in South Korea and Australia. I was promoted to 0-6 as vice wing commander and served as headquarters Director of Operations before leaving the cockpit.
My promotion to O-7 resulted in a position as Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of COANG. I was then selected as second ANG Assistant to the Commander Air Force Space Command in 1996 and promoted to 0-8. While in that job,  I happened to be at the Pentagon on 9/11 when the jet hit.
The President stood up US Northern Command in 1992 and my boss, Ed Eberhart asked me to join him in standing up the command. My job was to integrate the National Guard into the homeland defense command. My official job title was Special Assistant to the Combatant Commander, NORAD/NORTHCOM for National Guard Matters and Liaison to the Chief, NGB.
I retired from that position and the USAF, as an O-8, in 2004. My total flying time about 3,000 hour and my total consecutive time in the cockpit = 29 years.

Units Assigned

• 1968-1995 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron/140th Tactical Fighter Wing

• 1996-2000 HQ COANG

• 2000-2002 HQ AFSPC

• 2002-2004 NORAD/NORTHCOM

Awards & Decorations

 Defense Superior Service Medal
 Legion of Merit
 Meritorious Service Medal
 Air Force Commendation Medal
 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
 Combat Readiness Medal (with 2 Devices)

Flight Info

F-100
A-7
F-16

Military Education

• National Security Management Course

Civilian Education

•  BA Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO