Why did you join Civil Air Patrol?
I joined Oil City Composite Squadron 501 in December 1966 after the squadron commander, 1st Lt. Harry Jones, approached my parents. I was hooked because I had always been fascinated by all things Air Force and aviation, and the discipline seemed a natural fit. I would transition to the senior member program in 1971, and retired in 2015 as a lieutenant colonel and New York Wing Director of Aerospace Education. At the close of my career, minus two breaks, I had served 44 1/2 years of service in CAP
What is your current career?
I have served as a staff member of the New York State Legislature for two decades and am currently a Constituent Relations Manager for the New York State Senate. I am also a retired Air Force Master Sergeant whose career spanned security forces, public affairs, mission essential aircrew member and recruiting.
What specific lesson/experience from CAP has influenced your career or your life?
Through CAP, I would gain lifelong friendships, learning to set goals and striving to achieve them thought determination and perseverance. As a junior cadet, I walked in the shadows of CAP legends. Five of the Squadron 501 officers were charter members. One, Capt. H. Douglas Brown, was the wartime squadron commander and personal friend of Gill Robb Wilson. Eventually, I would build a level of knowledge from duties as an observer and assignments in seven CAP wings, CAPRAP NCO, and two tours as a base liaison to CAP.
What else should we know about you?
My Air Force career would involve 24 months overseas, Desert Storm, and three other deployments. I would serve on military support teams for the Alaskan visit of Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping and the two Alaskan visits of President Jimmy Carter. I later authored all of the initial public relations materials on the debut of the Grumman EF-111A, and was invited to Washington, D.C., in January 1985 as a military photographer for President Ronald Reagan's second inauguration. Also, I would gain an interest in personal fitness and complete the 22nd Air Force Marathon 10K event.
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