Class Of 1964 USAF Academy
Al's Story
For my Grandchildren
Early Days
My world started in Hannibal, Missouri, in November 1942 placing me on the younger side of the '64 guys. My parents, Julian and Gladys Rogers, provided for a very close knit family with my older sister, Julie, and my brother, Jesse, who is fourteen years younger than me. My Dad was a chemical engineer working in critical industry making explosives during World War II and did not serve in the military. We moved from Missouri to Northern California, Mississippi, New York City, Tennessee and back to California. I attended Catholic schools including freshman year at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis. The next three years of high school were at Downey High School, a public high school in Modesto, California. I was an Eagle Scout, President of the Key Club, Student Body Chief Justice, and varsity swimmer. Small world story is that George Lucas was a couple years behind me in school and wrote his movie, American Graffiti, about Modesto high school days. Even after all our travels across the globe my family roots remain in Northern California.
USAFA
The Air Force and the military were an entirely new and exciting venture for me. June 1960 was truly a shock! I was in 17th Squadron for the last three years with a terrific group of guys and the famous Captain “Bobby Airpower” Carter was our AOC and motivator for the Air Force and flying. Key highlights included jump school and bringing the Honor Graduate award back to USAFA from the Army at Fort Benning; Northern European field trip; leave in Europe; 3rd Lt. at RAF Alconbury, England, with a deployment to Morocco; Wing Champs in Water Polo; and Squadron Wing Champs in Intramurals. Probably the best part of the four years was meeting Linda Peterson and more about her later. Also I still recall “rolling” my Corvette next to Arnold Hall. Following graduation we had 70+ days until reporting to pilot training so five of us started on a journey around-the-world on military “space available” aircraft – quite an adventure - Rod Wells and I made it all the way around in thirty-one days.
Air Force
Listed below are my duty assignments with a few comments: · T-37 & T-38 Pilot Training, Webb AFB, TX, awarded UPT Officer Training award. Terrific class but little to do but learn to fly in Big Spring, TX. Fred McClintock and I had fun rooming together and he later was best man in our wedding. · F-105 Combat Crew Training, Nellis AFB, NV, class of nine all from '64 (Bob Abbott, Ron Bliss, Tom Browning, Nick Lacey, Tom McNish, Marty Neuens, Tom O'Keefe, Milt Rutter and myself) Nick, Marty and I were three bachelors rooming together near the Las Vegas “strip”. Marty later was an usher in our wedding.
· F-105 Combat pilot, Takhli, Thailand, completed 100 missions, ejected and picked up in Northeast Thailand by the “Jolly Greens” – very lucky guy!
· T-38 IP and Academic Instructor, Williams AFB, AZ. I think I learned more from the students than they may have learned from me.
· Adie-de-Camp, Commander, USAF Recruiting Service, Randolph AFB, TX - Generals McGlothlin and Carson worked on growing me up – no small challenge.
· Harvard Business School, MBA w/ distinction – interesting time to be in · Cambridge, MA.
· Colonels Group, Chief Special Actions Division, HQ USAF/DP, Pentagon, provided quite a vista of the Air Force
· Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA, my first taste of the potential of Jointness.
· B-52 Operations Officer and Squadron Commander, 441st Bomb Squadron, Mather AFB, CA – big step going to SAC and a lot to learn and learned most of it the hard way – squadron was recognized as “Best in SAC”.
· Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL - terrific Air Force, Joint and International colleagues · Long Range Planning for Manpower, Personnel and Training, HQ USAF/DP, Pentagon – completed a twenty year look-ahead long range plan which was a valuable journey.
· Vice Commander, 8th Bomb Wing, Carswell AFB, TX – B-52 and KC-135 wing
· Commander, 5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, ND, great people - B-52 and KC-135 mission on the northern tier. Led first B-52 deployment to operate and train from Egypt.
· Commander, 96th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, TX, first B-1B Operational Wing with the arrival of first B-1B in June 1985. Abilene is a wonderful home for the wing – the people are terrific!
· Served as IG, XP/Joint Strategic Planning Staff, and DO at Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB, NE, fortunate to be a part of this critical national strategic mission with great leaders during a period of significant change - Generals Davis, Welch, and Chain. I made my second "around-the-world" trip with Jack Chain and this trip was not on “space available”. · SHAPE Headquarters, Mons, Belgium, NATO assignment when the Berlin wall came down and during Dessert Storm – proud to represent the US in the international community. · Joint Staff, Pentagon – Director, J-7, Operational Plans and Interoperability, working for General Colin Powell. Truly a highlight and honored to have him officiate at my retirement, retiring as a Major General in 1993.
Following Chapters
Looking to actively engage in society and business, I joined Gemini Consulting, a strategic consulting firm, working in North America and Europe on commercial consulting engagements. Subsequently I joined American Management Systems in Fairfax, VA, for five years and led their Defense Group. Also spent four years with CACI International, Inc., leading an Operations Group. As the CEO of Command Information, a Carlyle portfolio company,and I positioned the company for a successful sale. Other activities have included board involvement: 8 years as Director on the AOG Board, DCS Corporation; XeDAR, Inc.; Glimmerglass Networks, Inc.; Chain Bridge Bank; Our Military Kids, Inc.; Falcon Foundation; American University, KOGOD Graduate School of Business; and the Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Family
I met Linda, who was raised in Omaha, NE, when she was attending Colorado Women College in Denver. We were married on May 7, 1966 and have spent 48 exciting years together raising a wonderful and expanding family. Our daughter Kim was born at Williams AFB, AZ. She is married to John Casey and they live in Arlington, VA, with their two terrific kids, Connor and Nora. Krista was born at Lackland AFB, TX. She is married to Fred Krumbhaar and they live in Boulder, CO, with their two wonderful kids, Oscar and Marlo. Our son Peter was born at Mather AFB, CA. He is married to Melissa and they live in Northern Virginia with their three exciting kids: Kyle, Evan and Naomi. We greatly enjoy visiting and spending time with our grandkids in Northern Virginia and Colorado. Our travels across the Air Force involved twenty-one moves as it did for many. Linda was fantastic and supportive throughout and especially as a commander's spouse in so many ways. After we transitioned from the Air Force, our geography stabilized. Linda went back to school at Virginia Tech earning her PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has an active clinical practice in Falls Church, VA, and teaches Couples Therapy in the VA Tech graduate program. She also co-founded a new therapy center. As a side-note, can you imagine what it is like to be married to a “therapist”?
Continuing ….
Our collective lives are busy with engaging work, family, grandkids, friends, church, exercise and travel. The globe is our travel agenda as we are fascinated with people, culture, and history. Our journeys have taken us to Scandinavia, Europe, Egypt, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, China, Tibet, Peru, Bolivia, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Cuba and India. We plan to continue our travels to additional countries.
We presently reside in both McLean, VA and Boulder, CO to be near our grandchildren. We have been blessed with a wonderful family and greatly appreciate all the opportunities and challenges we have been given! We look forward to the many additional chapters ahead.
Al
May 2014 [ Home ] [ Table Of Contents ]
[ Home ] [ Table Of Contents ]