Today's Featured Biography

 
Samuel Wagner

After graduating K-State and being commissioned in the Air Force in ’92, I married my best friend and high school sweetheart after six years of dating. We celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary in early August.

Over the past several years, the Air Force has kept us on the move and given us many opportunities. I’m still a pilot, primarily flying the KC-10 (air refueler), but also had a few years flying the Gulfstream IV (corporate jet). Currently I’m pulling a non-flying staff tour and Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Flying for the Air Force provided the opportunity to visit over forty countries…some I had never heard of before. The fact is though, there is no greater country than ours. I deployed for wars more times than I would like and I’m sure there is more to come. I’ve met some intriguing people and eaten some strange foods. One of my most memorable experiences is “hanging out” with Senator Arlen Specter on New Year’s Eve while watching ABBA perform live by the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin (I was his pilot toting him and his wife around Europe and the Middle East). The down side is we’ve had to move nine times; living in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Jersey two different times, Germany and now Virginia. While in Germany, we tried our best to see as much of Europe possible. If you get the chance, I definitely recommend renting a car and driving through the mountains of Tuscany…it’s amazing.

Since our ten-year reunion, Lanelle and I have been blessed with four children. They keep us young, laughing and on the go. Our youngest daughter, Emma is quite certain she is the boss of everybody. Our favorite family activity is packing a picnic and taking the kids to the zoo, aquarium, museum or the beach.

Lanelle and I have enjoyed moving around but with the kids getting older, it’s become much more difficult to pack up and relocate. I am a lieutenant colonel now with 16 years behind me and I fully expect to retire from the Air Force after four years here in Virginia. We are now shopping for a small community to live in and raise our family after retiring. If you know any good locations, please pass along your suggestions.

We had a great time at Waudby’s Friday night. Thanks to Joe & Tammy for hosting us all for the early-morning breakfast. I can’t remember the last time I stayed out that late and after having to get up at 6 to begin our 25-hour drive to Virginia…I know why I haven’t done that in a while.

We’re still waiting for the paparazzi shots of Nuss at the lake. Let’s get those photos circulating.

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