I retired from civil service as a GS-15 in August 2012. I worked from December 2012 to May 2013 for Booz Allen Hamilton as a strategic communications associate, working on a federal contract supporting TRICARE and the Defense Health Agency. I decided to take my final retirement in May 2013. Since that time, I have been playing drums in a classic rock band, riding and restoring motorcycles, taking photos, collecting and building scale model aircraft, shooting my guns, and enjoying life!
Maj. Peter J. Giroux
Capt. Perry L. Lamy
Capt. David Walker
Capt. Dieter Barnes
Capt Ben Sinor
1Lt. Jerry Huff
1Lt. Fred Wheeler
SSgt Michael Staley
SrA Brad Long
A1C Diane Updike was our squadron's administrative specialist. She later came to work for me in the Public Affairs Office as my administrative specialist when I became Chief, Public Affairs Division.
Best Moment My best moment was being selected to attend the Central Flight Instructor School (CFIC) as a first lieutenant (O-1E).
Worst Moment When I was grounded from flying in early 1982. While it did lead to the opportunity to retrain into the public affairs career field, I missed serving as an instructor electronic warfare officer and being a part of my crew. I had asperations to eventually become a defensive systems officer (DSO) on the B-1B and being grounded kept me from reaching that goal.
Chain of Command
The squadron commander when I was first assigned to the 596th BMS was Lt. Col. Charles G. Kucera, whom we all referred to as "The Kooch." The deputy squadron commander or "operations officer" under Lt. Col. Kucera, who succeeded him as the commander, was Lt. Col. Roger C. Mullins. During Lt. Col. Mullins' tenure as the squadron commander, Lt. Col. Terry A. Burke was his deputy. Lt. Col. Mullins was replaced by Lt. Col. Don H. Badgewell and Lt. Col. Burke served as his number two, also. He succeeded Lt. Col. Badgewell as the squadron commander when Lt. Col. Badgewell was reassigned.
During Lt. Col. Kucera's tenure, our wing Deputy Commander for Operations was Col. Robert R. McCartney. (I gave my initial emergency war order certification to Col. McCartney and he said it was "the best EWO cert he'd ever received." By the time Lt. Col. Mullins assumed command of the 596th, our DO at the wing was Col. Robert T. Sullivan. The last DO I worked for in the crew force was Col. Robert E. Dempsey.
While I was in the crew force, the wing commander of the 2nd Bomb Wing was Col. Alfred D. Herring.
Of course, all of the electronic warfare officers in the wing were managed by the Wing's Defensive Systems Branch. This office monitored our electronic warfare scores in flight and in the simulators and managed our professional advancement and training. During my tenure in the crew force, I worked closely with Capt. Ron Littlefield and Maj. William G. Bacon in the Defensive Systems Branch.
While I was in the crew force, Tony Figallo -- one of my wingmen here -- served as the squadron's executive officer.
Other Memories
One of the first additional duties Lt. Col. Kucera assigned me was serving as the squadron's awards and decorations officer. I was charged with monitoring all of the squadron members' service on flying status so that they could be submitted for and awarded the Combat Readiness Medal. Having been a wing historian and a plastic model builder, I decorated the waiting room outside the colonel's office with a large photo of a 596th Bomb Squadron B-26 Marauder from World War II and with models of past and current Air Force aircraft. The colonel seemed to like my initiative and appreciation for history.
