I grew up on a farm in South Dakota but did not see farming in my future. College was a failure and the Air Force seemed like a good place and time to figure out what I wanted to do. What was to be one 4-year enlistment became a 30 year career with promotion to Chief Master Sergeant, the highest enlisted grade. I served as an electronics technician, boom operator on KC-135s refueling other aircraft. I have experience as a military training instructor. I scheduled aircrews for alert duty and flight training, missile crews for alert duty and training. I scheduled administrative airlift for Fifth Air Force, including during the KAL Search and Recover operation. I ended my career in aircraft operations management. After retirement from active duty I graduated from college with a B.A. degree in economics and honors in the major.