Son Michael is a 1993 Parks graduate.
1956: After graduation (AME), worked in MACAir until called to active duty in Dec '56. Roomed with John Reilly!
1956- 62: Graduated from USAF pilot training and fighter interceptor school. Flew F-86D's with the 25th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Naha AB, Okinawa. Flew in the 1958 Taiwan Strait crisis. Served in Air Defense Command in the US.
1962-64: Graduate School, University of Wyoming under AF Institute of Technology. Graduated with MS in ME, Aero Engineering options.
1964-65 Aero Engineer, Service Engineering, Kelly AFB. Managed flight manuals for B-58, F-102, F-106 and T-29/C-131 aircraft.
1965-66: Combat pilot, 5th Air Commando Squadron, Vietnam. Flew U-10 aircraft in support of "black" programs. Flew over 300 missions, downed twice. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross, nine Air Medals, etc.
1966-69 :F-111 System Program Office, Wright Patterson AFB. Managed Air Force Category II flight testing at WPAFB, Edwards and Eglin.
1969-72: C-135 pilot and Chief of Aircraft Engineering, Air Force Eastern Test Range, Patrick AFB, FL. Flew and managed engineering programs on a fleet of highly modified C/EC/NKC-135 sensor aircraft dedicated to supporting NASA (Apollo) and DOD missile programs.
1972-74: F-111 System Program Office, WPAFB. Returned as Chief of Test for the remainder of the program.
1974-78: Research pilot, 4950th Test Wing, WPAFB. Flew all versions of the C-135 on local and worldwide tests ranging from Australia to South Africa. Instructor pilot and flight examiner in the C-135. Developed and flew performance, stability and control tests for highly modified aircraft with extensive external aerodynamic changes. Retired from USAF in Jan 78
1978-80: Developed and taught Shuttle flight crew procedures at NASA, JSC Houston. Developed RTLS (return to launch site) and contingency abort modes for main engine failures.
1980-82: Texas International Airlines (now Continental), Houston TX. Performed reliability analysis and shop engineering support functions. Established a large in-house overhaul program for components and accessories.
1982-00: Federal Express, Memphis TN. Chief Engineer, Structures Engineering. Participated in the expansion of Federal Express from a handful of Dassault -20 Falcons to the number one operator of Douglas, Boeing and Airbus wide body freighter aircraft in the world. Served as airline industry chairman for supplemental inspection/ageing aircraft issues. Developed and implemented the supplemental inspection program for DC/KC-10 aircraft. Developed pax to freighter conversion mods. Developed cargo systems and obtained patent.
2000- present: Chief Engineer, Federal Express Strategic Projects. Evaluated and flight tested (at Mojave) B-727 wing trailing edge modifications for long range cruise performance improvement. Participated in counter- MAPADS (shoulder launched IR missile) defense. First FedEx MD-11 now STC'd and flying with the Northrop-Grumman Guardian system. Developed and recently STC'd the first fully automatic freighter main deck cargo fire suppression system using sophisticated IR detection and nitrogen aerated foam as a suppressant agent. System now flying on an MD-10F, patents in progress.