Several of my high school educators were influential in my interest in electronics, amateur radio, and engineering. A famous and notable ham and my industrial arts shop teacher, Marshall Ensor W0BSP (SK) administered the Novice license to me in 1956. After high school in 1960, I joined the United States Air Force and trained pilots in navigation procedures as a Link Trainer Instructor, became a weather officer, and provided weather support for manned spacecraft operations.
As a result, the Air Force selected me to obtain a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology with follow on assignments in the USAF’s space program. I subsequently developed several classified systems and became a program manager and a Mission Director for two USAF space projects.
After retirement from the USAF in 1982, I had contractor assignments as a Research Scientist with the National Security Agency, the USAF Space Command, and the Central Intelligence Agency. Most of my projects were classified and some are credited with ending the Cold War and countering terrorist actions. After retiring from industry, I was the Chief Flight Instructor for a flight school in San Marcos, TX and served on that city’s Airport Advisory Board for two terms. Today I’m serving on my hometown’s City Council as an alderman.
My amateur radio involvement over the years has been sporadic due to work assignments, but now that I’m fully retired, I’m getting back to my true love of amateur radio – CW operations. I’d like to think I can inspire others to use this mode of operations and keep the legacy of Morse code alive for future generations.
My other amateur radio interests are remote operations and Parks on the Air (POTA). Today I have two remote stations and support other remote station operators as they bring their stations on-line. I’m also active in my local amateur radio club and am a CW Instructor for the Long Island CW Club (LICW).
I’m honored to have been invited to join CWops. Looking forward to meeting other members on the air.
This biography is what appeared in Solid Copy when the member joined CWops.