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Today's Featured Biography

 
William Cole

I was born in obscurity...a product of stellar forces colliding with earth's Terra firma ...wait, sorry, I got a little carried away...!
After high school I had a brief track & field career at Adams State College in Alamosa, CO (1974-1975). I was able to achieve 2nd place in the 880yd (800M race) for the Mountain West Conference as a freshman, but the college decided not to renew my scholarship but give it to the football team instead. College was an eye-opening experience, but my heart was set on serving in the military for our great nation (USA! USA! USA!).
Before entering the service in 1982 I got married and had two boys (Clay and Lee) before I knew! My kids are one of the best things that ever happened to me in my life...! I worked construction for many years in Denver and entered the U.S. Air Force in April of 1982. Yes, I was a little older to be entering the service at the age of 24, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life!
I entered the military, one of my biggest and most important ambitions of my life, as an Aircraft Structural Maintenance Technician. My first assignment was to RAF Lakenheath, England with Statue of Liberty Wing (48th Fighter Wing). It was literally a dream come true to work on a USAF fighter (F-111F) and during that incredibly busy mission operations overseas assignment, I took college classes at night in order to achieve my Associates Degree.
From 1985 to 1991 my family and I were assigned to Altus, AFB Oklahoma, working with the Strategic Air Command (SAC) on the KC-135R (Refuel Aircraft). The assignment had many ups and downs, but I was able to achieve my Bachelor's Degree with the University of Southern Illinois. My third child, Christa Michele Cole, was born in Oklahoma one week after the Space Shuttle Challenger accident (she was named after Christa McAuliffe and another very important lady in my life..hmmm who could that be...?) During my assignment with the 340th Air Refueling Wing (also at Altus AFB), I was deployed to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
From 1991 to 1995 I was stationed overseas again in Wiesbaden and Sembach AFB, Germany and returned to serve 2 1/2 years at Edwards AFB, CA on the B-2 "Stealth Bomber",a very exciting and at times tough assignment! I then returned overseas to RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom and moved into aircraft maintenance supervision on the F-15 "Eagle" -- an incredible time in my life. Returning to the US in 2002 I was stationed at Kirtland, AFB New Mexico and remained there until 2009. I earned my Master's Degree during that time and was promoted to Chief Master Sergeant (E-9).
While at Kirtland AFB, I volunteered for one year (2006-2007) remote tour of duty to Kabul, Afghanistan (Camp Eggers). Operation Enduring Freedom needed senior NCOs to mentor the Afghanistan Army and Air Corps. We received Army training to conduct and command convoys in and outside of Kabul and throughout the country. The yearlong combat tour was an incredible experience; what an honor to serve my country in a war zone!
In 2012, I retired from the Air Force (last duty station was Fairchild, AFB Washington) and chose Florida as the place to retire. I was hired by Sikorsky Helicopters (Test Aircraft Manager) to build, coordinate with engineers/aircrew/maintenance technicians and test fly a new heavy lift helicopter for the Marines (CH-53K "King Stallion"). What an incredible opportunity and meaningful way to end my aviation career in 2018. I now live part time in Colorado and in Florida, very grateful to be with the love of my life and looking forward to making the best of every day!! God Bless you and may God continue to bless the United States of America...!

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