I am 63 years old, married to Joanne for 43 years, father of four adult children. We live on Hawk Haven Ranch, south of Decatur Texas. I started flying in 1960 and served as a Tactical Fighter Pilot until retirement as a Colonel in 1979. I retired with 13 years of active duty and 13 years Air National Guard military service.
Military aircraft flown, positions held: F-100, F-105, F-84 and F-4C for 4130 hour, including a combat tour of 86 missions, 256 hour in an F-105 over North Vietnam. Instructor Pilot in F-105, F-84, F-4C and Civil Flight Instructor. Weapons and Tactics Officer, Standards Evaluation Officer, Flight Commander and Squadron Commander of the 170th TFS, Springfield, Ill.
Awards and Decorations: Outstanding Athlete of Officer Candidate School, Class 60A. Distinguished Graduate Primary Flight Training. Distinguished Graduate Basic Flight Training. Commanders Trophy, Class 61G. Overall Top Gun, F-100 Combat Crew Training. The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
I flew for American Airlines from 1966 until retirement in 1997. Captain on MD-80, B-727, DC-10, B-757 and B-767. Chief Pilot instructing on MD-80 and B-767, B-757 for nine years. Designed and taught a two hour class to upgrading Captains on "Decision Making." Chair of Training Standards Committee. Author of several articles in aviation publications.
Aviation Safety committees I have served on. Avionics-Charting- Database Harmonization. 5 working groups in Flight Safety CFIT/ALAR Task Force. FAA/Industry Joint Safety Action Team for Approach and Landing Accidents. SAE G-10 Vertical Situation Display. SAE G-10 Automation Committee. Currently working as an Aviation Safety Consultant doing safety audits of the code share partners of a major U.S. airline