Previously Held AFSC/MOS 30436-Space Communications Systems Equipment Operator/Specialist
30456-Space Communications Systems Equipment Operator/Specialist
30476-Space Communications Systems Equipment Operator/Technician
30496-Ground Radio Communications Superintendent
30499-Radio Superintendent
2E1X1-Satellite, Wideband, and Telemetry Systems
Service Years
1978 - 1998
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
What are you doing now:
I work as a Quality Engineer at United Launch Alliance. We design (Denver, CO), build (Decatur, AL), assemble, test, and launch (Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL and Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA) Delta IV and Atlas V space launch vehicles at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) and Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) Launch Vehicle processing facilities. We are now developing the Vulcan Rocket and Centaur V upper stage to ensure future access to space for the USA!
I now live in Decatur, Alabama and serve as a Quality Engineer at the Factory with primary responsibility for the final assembly of the Delta IV Booster, and secondary responsibility for the Atlas V Booster, Atlas Centaur 2nd Stage vehicle, and the Delta IV 2nd Stage vehicle. I also have the privilege of helping with development of the concept of factory operations for the final assembly of the Vulcan rocket booster. I love the job and love the people in Alabama!
Other Comments:
As a personal note, it is always a pleasure to interact with our Air Force cadre who are assigned to the factory as partners with ULA. I still love to be around uniformed service brothers and sisters!
Description Operation Southern Watch was an air-centric military operation conducted by the United States Department of Defense from Summer 1992 to Spring 2003.
United States Central Command's Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA) had the mission of monitoring and controlling the airspace south of the 32nd Parallel (extended to the 33rd Parallel in 1996) in southern and south-central Iraq during the period following the end of the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992 with the stated purpose of ensuring Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 (UNSCR 688) of 5 April 1991, which demanded that Iraq "immediately end this repression and express the hope in the same context that an open dialogue will take place to ensure that the human and political rights of all Iraqi citizens are respected." Nothing in the resolution spelled out the Iraqi no-fly zones or Operation Southern Watch.
Iraqi bombing and strafing attacks against the Shi’ite Muslims in Southern Iraq during the remainder of 1991 and during 1992 indicated Saddam Hussein chose not to comply with the resolution. Forces from Saudi Arabia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France participated in Operation Southern Watch. The commander of JTF-SWA, an aeronautically rated United States Air Force (USAF) Major General, assisted by an aeronautically designated United States Navy (USN) Rear Admiral, reported directly to the Commander, United States Central Command (USCENTCOM).
Military engagements in Southern Watch occurred with regularity, with Coalition aircraft routinely being shot at by Iraqi air defense forces, though they were usually only reported in the Western press occasionally. An intensification was noted prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, though it was said at the time to just be in response to increasing activity by Iraqi air-defense forces. It is now known that this increased activity occurred during an operation known as Operation Southern Focus.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1996
To Month/Year
December / 1996
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
People You Remember Worked Communications Reporting to the Commander, JTF-SWA
Memories Long drives from lodging location to the work site for 12-hour shifts. Was notified on my second day in Saudi Arabia that I was selected for SMSgt promotion.
