Don A. Beasley PARARESCUE-PJ Chief Master Sergeant (ret) Don A. Beasley found his calling to ensure the safe return of countless lives, not only on the battlefield but here in the United States after working as a Russian analyst. This higher calling led him to rescuing comrades in Vietnam and Alaska. With his experience, he trained and guided over 250 future pararescue personnel in order to maintain the safe return of Soldiers, Airmen, and Seamen around the world. This is only one of his many impacts from his time in pararescue. Beasley was born in LaPorte, Indiana in 1939. He joined the Air Force in 1956 as a Russian Linguist. In 1963, he chose to cross- train into the Air Force’s Pararescue career field. In order to cross-train, he attended jump school at Ft Benning, Georgia, scuba School in Key West, Florida, Ranger School in Dahlonega, Georgia, medical school at Gunter Air Force Base (AFB), Alabama, and finally the Pararescue transition school at Eglin AFB, Florida. With his extensive training complete, he accomplished multiple assignments during his career, mostly overseas. His first major experience in planning and executing rescue missions was when he was attached to the Gemini and Apollo space programs. As part of this recovery force, Beasley oversaw the safe recovery of astronauts in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Along with working as a member in the recovery force, he developed the method of attaching the flotation collars to the Apollo and Gemini spacecraft. In 1965, Beasley volunteered for Vietnam and served two years completing five missions and earning a Distinguished Flying Cross in 1968. Not only did Beasley support National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the astronauts and serve in Vietnam, he also supported a major feat for aviation--the first helicopter flight around the world. On September 1, 1982, Beasley was on the support crew for the Spirit of Texas helicopter, flown by H. Ross Perot, Jr., and Jay Coburn. The mission lasted 29 days, three hours, and eight minutes with a flight path of 26,000 miles crossing 26 different countries. Beasley accumulated almost 10,000 flight hours and 500 parachute jumps over his distinguished 31-year career. He retired in 1987 as the Chief of Pararescue for the Pacific and the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commander of the 41st Aerospace Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing. Following his retirement, Beasley continued his commitment to the military as the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Commission, assisting veterans during their recovery and reintegration from the military to the community. Beasley resides in Bossier City, Louisiana with his wife Mitzi where he continues to support military personnel as an active participant in the Air Force Sergeant Association (AFSA) and the Veterans Affairs Commission. Thomas “TC” Case TACTICAL AIR CONTROL PARTY / TWO SILVER STARS Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) Thomas Elliott “TC” Case was raised in New Mexico and enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAF) at the age of 22. He has spent the last 21 years serving as a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) specialist for Air Combat Command (ACC), Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), and Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). SMSgt Case served for many years as a liaison to Army conventional and Special Operations Forces (SOF) and has an extensive operational background including advanced skills as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), Static Line Parachutist, Military Freefall Parachutist, Theater Site Exploitation, Operational Emergency Medical Skills, and Special Reconnaissance. He has deployed fourteen times in support of numerous contingency and Special Operations missions to include Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF), Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF), and Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL (OFS). In March 2003, he was assigned to the 17th Special Tactics Squadron [formerly the 17th Air Support Operations Squadron], Fort Benning, Georgia supporting Bravo Company, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, during OIF and the seizure of Haditha Dam roughly 185 miles northwest of Baghdad, Iraq. His unit came under heavy direct and indirect fire from the enemy. SMSgt Case quickly began directing air strikes and simultaneously engaging the enemy in close combat. From 31 March 2003 to 5 April 2003, SMSgt Case continued to direct Close Air Support (CAS), controlling up to fourteen aircraft, refusing to be relieved until their objective was secure. His distinguished efforts paved the way for new JTAC TTPs (tactics, techniques, and procedures) and led to the USAF awarding him a Silver Star. In July 2009, he was deployed supporting Alpha Company, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, during a classified objective, the capture and destruction of a terror training camp in the Khost- Gardez mountain pass of Afghanistan. During that mission, the unit came under heavy machine gun fire. SMSgt Case employed CAS from the supporting AC-130U, exposing himself to the enemy to ensure the danger close airstrikes he was requesting hit the correct targets. He continued to assess the enemy and their position while continuously exposing himself to direct effective airstrikes and defeat the enemy. He did all this while engaging in close combat with the enemy and overcoming issues with damaged equipment to ensure the safety of his unit. His actions led to the award of his second Silver Star, becoming one of three Airmen since 9/11 to receive the nation’s third highest award twice for valor and gallantry in combat. SMSgt Case now serves as the Operations Superintendent for the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. He manages the daily operations of two Brigades and a Division staff of Airmen aligned with the 25th Infantry Division, ensuring that 129 personnel are properly trained and equipped to support Pacific Command (PACOM) theater requirements. He resides in Kailua, Hawaii with his wife Kathy of 14 years and their children Devon, Savanna, and John. Kevin P. “Chili” Chilton ASTRONAUT / FIGHTER PILOT / TEST PILOT / COMMANDER General (ret) Kevin P. “Chili” Chilton is an engineer, fighter pilot, test pilot, astronaut, and retired United States Air Force (USAF) four-star general. His last assignment was Commander, U.S. Strategic Command from 2007 to 2011. He retired from the Air Force on February 1, 2011, after having achieved the highest ranK of any military astronaut. Chilton is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Sciences in 1976. In 1977, he earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University on a Guggenheim Fellowship. After receiving his pilot wings and graduating first in his class at Williams Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona in 1978, he qualified in the RF-4C Phantom II and was assigned to the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Kadena Air Base (AB), Japan. In 1981, he converted to the F-15 Eagle and was assigned to the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena AB. In 1982, Chilton attended Squadron Officer School and graduated #1 in his class and subsequently received the Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Award as the top graduate for the year. He served as a Flight Leader, Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander in the 7th and 9th Tactical Fighter Squadrons at Holloman AFB, New Mexico before being selected for the USAF Test Pilot School where he went on to graduate as #1 in his class in 1984. After Test Pilot School, Chilton was assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida, where he conducted weapons and systems tests in various models of the F-15 and F-4 aircraft and served as the 3247th Test Squadron Operations Officer. In August 1987, Chilton applied for and was accepted to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and became an Air Force astronaut in August 1988. He served 11 years as an astronaut, flying in space three times as the pilot on the maiden voyage of the Endeavor (STS-49), on again on Endeavor (STS-59), and as the Commander of Atlantis (STS-76). In 1996, he became the Deputy Program Manager for Operations for the International Space Station (ISS) Program for two years, where he garnered a wealth of sKills in international negotiations, budgeting, and program management. In 1998, he returned to the Air Force and served in various staff and command positions to include assignments on the Air Force Space Command staff, the Joint Staff and Headquarters Air Force staff, and as Commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, California; 8th Air Force, BarKsdale AFB, Louisiana; Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado; and United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NebrasKa. Chilton is the proud husband of Major General (ret) Catherine Chilton and father to four wonderful daughters [Mary Kate, Megan, Morgan, and Madison]. He remains actively involved in industry, consultation and most importantly, mentoring aspiring leaders. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris F-105 PILOT / VIETNAM PRISONER OF WAR Colonel (ret) Carlyle “Smitty” Harris was born April 11, 1929, in Parkersburg, West Virginia and grew up in Maryland. He enlisted in the Air Force on January 2, 1951, before commissioning as a second lieutenant and earning his pilot wings in 1953. After several assignments at operational and training units, Harris was transferred to the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base (AB), Okinawa, Japan in December 1964. In March of 1965, he began flying combat missions in the F-105 Thunderchief over Southeast Asia. On April 4, 1965, during an Operation Rolling Thunder mission targeting the Thanh Hóa Bridge in North Vietnam, an important Vietcong passageway for supplies and reinforcements, Harris’s aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire forcing him to eject. He was captured immediately and remained in captivity for 2,871 days, spending most of this period in the Hanoi Hilton (Hỏa Lò Prison).