JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Every child has a dream of what they want to do when they grow up. For some, it is sports, for others, it's to become a doctor, nurse, dancer, actor, lawyer or even to work in a skilled trade. My dream was to be an officer and specifically a pilot in the United States Air Force. My family was not immune to the sacrifice a military family makes, but we also possessed a deep understanding and appreciation for the call to serve, so others may prevail.
My father was a career enlisted member in the Air Force and served 24 years. He served in Vietnam and remains an inspiration to me as one of the members of the recently declassified Lima Site 85 in Laos. I was unaware about the mission of Lima Site 85, nor how close I came to never being conceived at all. I know now, however, that whatever my father went through solidified within him the values he would later pass down to me.
My closest friends will tell you that I have always believed deeply in the military and especially in the core values represented in our Air Force; integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do. The military for me, has never been about glory or making money - I truly believe that my purpose is to do whatever I can to serve others and provide a sense of security and hope for those who are in need.
When I began pilot training in 1996, I was determined to be a fighter pilot and "bring the rain" on those who would pose a threat to our nation's interests. I did well enough in pilot training to have a choice of going the fighter/bomber track or going cargo/tanker. Amazingly to me and many of my instructors, I decided that I was better suited to be the bearer of hope than to wield the sword. So, I chose the cargo/tanker track and eventually finished pilot training in a position to choose the only C-17A offered to the three pilot training bases. A lot of stars lined up that day; my pilot training base chose first out of the three bases; there was only one C-17A to Charleston Air Force Base; and I was blessed to be the first to pick among the three bases. I stood tall and said, "I'll take the C-17 to Charleston!" Little did I know that was the beginning of what would become my next home.
I arrived at Charleston AFB in September 1997, and was assigned to the 17th Airlift Squadron, 437th Airlift Wing, affectionately known as the AAA (Anything, Anywhere, Anytime) Moving Company. Our squadron mascot was the moose because of the sound the aircraft made while it was being refueled. Steeped in tradition, the 17th AS was the first C-17A squadron and would go on to be the first squadron to forward deploy C-17s into the combat Area of Responsibility. During my four and a half years at Charleston, I learned every aspect I could about the C-17 and its mission. I had the opportunity to be part of several operations which put the C-17 on the short list as the combatant commander's airlifter of choice when it absolutely had to get done! My skills were honed as a tactical airlifter in operations such as Kosovo, Phoenix Scorpion I, II, II, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Serving at Charleston not only honed my skills as a pilot, but it also enhanced my leadership abilities.
I had many mentors during my time at Charleston which helped sculpt these skills. One of the most memorable was my first squadron commander, Lt. Col. Ed Schauberger. He told me there were three things required to become a successful member of the squadron: accomplish the mission always; take care of the people in the squadron and their families; and never forget that we exist as silent professionals, sacrificing so that others may succeed. I took those priorities to heart and have found they are as true now as they were then.
I left Charleston in 2002 and spent a short period at McChord AFB, Wa., before being selected as one of seven instructors to stand-up the first-ever C-17 Weapons School. From there, I spent a year with the Army at the Army's Command and General Staff College where I learned the synergy that exists between air power and the ground commander's scheme of maneuver. I graduated from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and moved on to serve Air Mobility Command as the C-17/C-5 program element monitor and force structure manager. For the next three and a half years I was fortunate enough to experience the operational and strategic level planning process and how it applied to the Air Force and national military and national security strategies. I grew as an officer and was learning more each day. Even so, I always felt a pull back towards Charleston and my home in the 17th AS. As James Taylor said in one of his most famous songs,
"In my mind I'm going to Carolina.
Can't you see the sunshine, can't you just feel the moonshine?
Ain't it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind?
Yes, I'm going to Carolina in my mind."
As fate would have it, I was destined to return to Charleston and to the AAA Moving Company, this time as the director of operations. How amazing it was to be back. It was as if I never left - every sound, smell and scene took me right back to the beginning. Six months later though, I became the chief of safety for Joint Base Charleston. I was on the outer fringes of the squadron and feared what I had come so close to (that feeling of home and family) was just to be a tease. I was overjoyed when I was informed that I would once again return to the 17th AS, but now as the commander! So, I am home again and thanks in no small part to a long list of mentors and people who saw something in me that I can only hope to live up to.
I can think of no better way to honor them than to continue to embody those values Lt. Col. Schauberger instilled in me so many years ago: Accomplish the mission always; take care of the members of the squadron and their families; and never forget that we are the silent professionals, existing and sacrificing so that others may succeed and prevail.
It's good to be home.