2022 - 50th Summer of ’72 began with basic training at the USAF Academy on 3 July. I graduated in June 1976 with shiny gold bars, a slot to Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), a BS in Electrical Engineering, and most importantly, a fiancé, Celia. I met her in February of 1974 at the University of Northern Colorado and was immediately smitten. We were engaged in 1976 and married in 1977. My first assignment was UPT at Reese AFB, TX while she finished nursing school at the University of Northern Colorado. Our next assignment was at Castle AFB in Merced, CA where I learned to fly the KC- 135A Stratotanker (think Boeing 707). Celia worked out of the Merced hospital in the Cardiac Intensive care unit while I learned to fly the gas station in the sky. First duty station was Wurtsmith AFB, Oscoda, MI. Here we both worked, Celia at a local hospital and me, flying and serving SAC strategic alert. We welcomed Daughter #1, Karen during this tour. The summer of 1981 took us to McConnell AFB, KS. Here again, Celia worked in Wichita, and in September of that year we welcomed the arrival of Daughter #2, Sarah. In 1983 we moved to Beavercreek OH (adjacent to Wright-Patterson AFB) where I started my on my graduate degree. Celia again worked teaching locally childbirth education we also welcomed Daughter #3, Kristin. In December 1984, we departed for San Antonio Texas for a 4-year tour at the AF Electronic Warfare Center so I could put my master’s degree in Electro-Optics to work. Kelly AFB in San Antonio TX made us welcome in early January with snow. Celia immediately found work teaching CBE and worked space-related tasks. I was promoted to Major during my tour and selected for Intermediate Service School. During this tour we welcomed Daughter #4, Catherine. In mid-1988, we moved to Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL where I would spend a year at the Armed Forces Staff College (ACSC). Celia taught and I studied. 1989 led us to Plattsburgh AFB, NY for SAC duty as in the KC-135/A/Q. PAFB was our longest tour at 5 years. During that time Celia went back to work full time, I went off to war for Desert Storm/Shield. Upon my return from honing my flying and leadership skills, I upgraded to Instructor Pilot and helped the two flying units convert to the KC- 135R/T. I was promoted to Lt Col and selected for a command position at Malmstrom AFB MT. So, in mid-year 1994, we departed for a long trip across the country. Malmstrom AFB and command of the 43rd Operations Support Squadron. Early in our tour we welcomed Son #1, Andrew. Montana really is Big Sky Country! Our next and final assignment was to Scott AFB, IL in 1996 where I retired from the Strategy, Planning and Policy Division of Air Mobility Command in September of 1998. Career #1 comes to an end. We moved to Denver Colorado, without a real plan, but we figured it out. Celia started working at University Hospital while I job hunted. Back to teaching as the Department Chair for Photonics and Vacuum Thin Film Technology for the Community College system. It was eye-opening as to how much is expected of teachers. During this time several of my students were technicians from local aerospace and optics companies. This led to the end of career/job #2 when I interviewed for and accepted a job with Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. (BATC) in Dec of 2002. BATC was my second longest career, and I had a blast. 12 years as Systems Engineering positions and manager. The best time was working on the James Webb Space Telescope. To see that coming to life these past few months has been exciting. I retired from BATC at the end of 2014 again without a real plan. I relaxed for a year before I knew that retirement (even if it was the 2nd one) was not going to work and I so I decided to start my own business. Shields Executive Group was born as franchise with Management Recruiters International. I specialized in Technical Recruiting for the Photonics Industry. It is not rocket science, but harder than I imagined. I folded my CEO tent in 2018. Great learning experience, not great income source. Career #3 comes to an end. Back to Aerospace. I scored a 6-month contract with BATC working as verification lead on the Ozone Mapping and Profiling system. It took a bit longer to sell the instrument suite to NASA, so that contract ended in 2019 after 14 months. My final foray into employment was as the Verification Lead for the Human Landing System with Lockheed Martin and started June 2020. What a fantastic opportunity! My last 8 months at LM was on a very fast-paced, highly important defense program. In February 2022, it was time to hang it up and enjoy my 3rd and hopefully final retirement. All my children and grandchildren live within a 30-minute drive, and I see them all reasonably often. Celia also followed me into retirement with over 44 years working as a Registered Nurse and I am looking forward to spending the next 30+ years enjoying the freedom to be with her and my kids whenever we want. My children. I mentioned them for a reason as they are clearly our most important legacy. Karen Hashemi (spouse Mike) is a Nurse Midwife. My two grandchildren, Daria (14), and Oren (11) have been a close part of our life since they were born (grandparents being the best value for babysitting). Sarah Ford (spouse Dr. Steven) is a Sr Staff Systems engineer at Lockheed Martin. In her spare time, she is Lt Col Sarah Ford, USSF assigned to the Pentagon Space Staff. Kristin Shields, MD, is an OB/GYN and Critical care physician. She happens to work in the same practice as her big sister Karen. Catherine Morgan (spouse MSgt Jeff, USSF) just completed her degree in Biological Anthropology and plans to continue her education through her PhD. There is a lot of reading between the lines on this entire missive. Some are war stories, some are family, all are my joy to share with my rarely seen friends.