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Home , 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Kadena Air Base

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 . 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 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 (USAF) at the age of 22. He has spent the last 21 years serving as a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) specialist for (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 (AB), . 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, , Beale AFB, ; 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

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), , 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). Remembering a conversation he had with an instructor at survival school about a tap code the Prisoners of War (POWs) used in World War II, Harris taught four other POWs the code. The use of the code spread as POWs transferred prisons or moved in and out of cells and solitary confinement. Harris was released and returned home during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. After reintegrating with his wife Louise and three children, including his son who was born shortly after he was taken into captivity, Harris attended Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Alabama and attained the rank of Colonel. Following his graduation in August 1974, he remained on the faculty until his retirement on July 31, 1979. After completing his Air Force career, Harris attended law school and joined the Mississippi Bar in December 1981.

Frank G. Klotz

MISSILEER / FIRST COMMANDER OF AIR FORCE GLOBAL STRIKE COMMAND

Lieutenant General (ret) Frank Klotz was born in Lubbock, Texas in 1950, the son of a career Air Force pilot. Although poor eyesight prevented him from flying, Klotz carved his own path which culminated in the distinction of being the first Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. A distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in 1973, Klotz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in International Affairs. Next, as a Rhodes Scholar, he attended Oxford University in where he earned a Master of Philosophy degree in International Relations and, ultimately, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Politics. Upon leaving Oxford, Klotz went to Washington, D.C. as an International Politico-Military Affairs Officer in the Directorate of Concepts at Headquarters Air Force (HAF) and was Military Assistant for Special Projects in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, and Logistics at the Pentagon. Six years after his graduation, he returned to his USAFA roots as a member of the Department of Political Science. After serving as a White House Fellow, he was trained in missile operations and had his first missileer assignment at Grand Forks Air Force Base (AFB), North Dakota where he held several leadership positions including Combat Crew Commander, Operations Officer, Chief of the Standardization and Evaluation Division, and Commander of the 447th Strategic Missile Squadron. Following in-residence professional military education (PME) as a Senior Research Fellow and student at the National War College, Klotz was a Defense Plans Officer and then Chief of the Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Plans Branch at the US Mission to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels, Belgium. He served at Grand Forks AFB a second time as commander of the 321st Operations Group and later at Minot AFB, North Dakota as commander of the 91st Missile Group, which became the during his tenure. Klotz went to Peterson AFB, Colorado where he served as the Director of Logistics for AF Space Command. The Air Force then selected him to be a Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. Following training in the Russian language, Klotz put his knowledge of international relations and politics to work as Defense Attaché in the US Embassy, Moscow, Russia. Klotz returned once again to Washington, D.C. as Director for Nuclear Policy and Arms Control on the National Security Council staff at the White House. He then returned to the field as Commander of 20th Air Force, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, with responsibility for America's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force. Next, he was Vice Commander of AF Space Command at Peterson AFB, Colorado. Klotz returned to Washington, D.C. to serve as Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and Director of the Air Force Staff, which he believed was going to be his final active duty assignment. However, Klotz was asked to perform one last service to his country by General Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, when he became the first Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, capping off a storied 37-year Air Force career. Today, he and his wife Nancy are active in the Alexandria, Virginia community. They enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.

William D. “Hawk” Mol

FIGHTER PILOT

Colonel (ret) William D. “Hawk” Mol began his Air Force career as an aviation cadet in 1949. He graduated from Pilot Training, as part of Class 50-F, in 1950 and was assigned to the 36th Fighter Bomber Squadron at Itazuke Air Base (AB), Japan. He was called upon to fight in the , during which he flew 100 combat missions dropping bombs and rockets from his F-80 Super Saber aircraft. Upon his return home, Mol was assigned to the , Albany, Georgia, from 1952 to 1958. After a one-year assignment in Japan, he attended Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course at Chanute Air Force Base (AFB), Illinois. In 1962, Mol served as a Maintenance Officer at the 4239th Organizational Maintenance Squadron, Kincheloe AFB, Michigan. He was off to school again in 1965 to attend the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. After completing school, he served as the 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron Operations Officer at Cannon AFB, New Mexico until 1966 and as the Forward Air Controller/Air Liaison Officer in Tan Son Nhut, Republic of Vietnam until 1967. Mol took squadron command in 1967 at Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam. It was here that Mol was called again to fight for his country. During the , he flew 275 combat missions in F-100s, F-5s, and O-1s, zooming at supersonic speed dropping napalm, bombs, and rockets on air-to-ground targets. Following his second tour of war, Mol served for the Air Force Inspector General at Norton AFB, California, and as Headquarters Staff Officer at 9th Air Force, Shaw AFB, South Carolina. From 1972 to 1974, Mol was assigned to the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing at Nellis AFB, Nevada. After a year as Deputy Inspector General, Headquarters (TAC) at Langley AFB, Virginia, Mol was assigned as Commander of the 432nd Tactical Fighter Wing at Udorn Royal Thai AB, . Mol served one last assignment as Chief of Staff, 12th Air Force at Bergstrom AFB, Texas. A decorated veteran, Mol’s courage and valor in action were an inspiration to those who served with him. He retired with honor in July 1977 proclaiming, “Here’s to the boys who fly in the sky!” He is the father of four daughters and resides with his wife Betty in Austin, Texas.

Merryl Tengesdal

U-2 PILOT

Colonel (ret) Merryl Tengesdal was the first and only African American woman to fly the U-2 “Dragon Lady” high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft; and one of only five women and three African Americans to be accepted into the U-2 program. She served an impressive United States Air Force (USAF) career logging over 3,400 flight hours and 330 combat hours. Tengesdal was raised in the Bronx, New York. She holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Haven, Connecticut. At the time of her graduation, she was one of only three women to make it through the competitive program. Tengesdal attended the ’s Officer Candidate School (OCS) and began her career as an aviator in 1994. She started her aviation career flying the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter, while stationed at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. While flying the SH-60, Tengesdal completed multiple deployments to the Middle East and . Beginning in 2000, she served as a T-6 and T-34 flight training instructor. While teaching flight training in the T-6, she was one of four Navy instructors that were selected to train joint pilots at (AFB), Georgia in the Joint Student Undergraduate Pilot Training (JSUPT) program. In 2004, Tengesdal was selected for the USAF’s highly competitive U-2 program, at Beale AFB, California. At the time of her selection for the program, she was only the fifth female ever to fly the U-2. Today, she remains one of three African Americans and the only African American female to have participated in the USAF’s U-2 program. As a U-2 pilot, Tengesdal deployed for several operations, including OLIVE HARVEST, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM and in the Horn of Africa. While stationed at Beale AFB, she served in a number of positions including 9th Reconnaissance Wing (9 RW) Chief of Flight Safety and the 9 RW Physiological Support Squadron Director of Operations. In 2008, Tengesdal became the Detachment Commander of Detachment 2 WR/ALC Palmdale, California. In 2010, she worked on the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and US Northern Command (NORTHCOM) J8 staff, in Colorado. In 2013, Tengesdal returned to Beale AFB and held the positions of Deputy Operations Group Commander and Inspector General (IG), 9 RW. Her last assignment was the Director of Inspections for the Office of the Air Force Inspector General at the Pentagon. Throughout her career, Tengesdal had the privilege of operating the following aircraft: T-34C, TH-57 B/C, SH-60B, T-6A, T- 38A/B/C, and U-2S. She retired in 2017, as a Command Pilot, having flown more than 3,400 including 330 combat hours. She currently resides in Granite Bay, California with her husband, Kjell and her son, Flynn.

Walter L. “Neutron” Watson, Jr.

MASTER NAVIGATOR / SR-71 RECONNAISSANCE SYSTEMS OFFICER

Colonel (ret) Walter L. “Neutron” Watson, Jr., was born in Columbia, South Carolina and was the oldest of four children born to the late Walter L. Watson, Sr., and the late Mildred Platt Watson. He attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. and earned a Mechanical Engineering degree and commission in the Air Force through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program. He entered the Air Force in 1971 as an avionics maintenance officer, but in 1973 he was selected for aviation training. This began a journey on a very diverse and distinguished flying career in the Air Force. He became a flight instructor, flight examiner, and flight commander in tactical fighter and strategic reconnaissance (SR) squadrons that flew F-4C/D/E, F-111D, and SR-71 aircraft. He became a master navigator with more than 3,100 hours including 40 combat hours accumulated during operations in Southeast Asia and Operation EL DORADO CANYON during the Libya conflict. Watson was the first and only African American to qualify as a crewmember in the SR-71 “Blackbird,” which was a secret reconnaissance aircraft that could travel more than three times faster than the speed of sound. Crewmembers wore a full pressure suit, similar to those of the astronauts, as they routinely operated at altitudes over 80,000 feet and speeds exceeding Mach three (2,100 miles per hour). He has contributed and co-authored books on the SR-71 experience and supporting the mission during the Libya conflict. After his flying career, Watson continued to make an impact on the Air Force in officer production and training. As Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies at North Carolina A&T State University, his leadership helped his unit to achieve multiple minority officer production milestones. His accomplishments led to an assignment in several leadership positions at Headquarters (HQ) AFROTC at Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Alabama. His assignments at the HQ AFROTC included the following: Chief of AFROTC Scholarship Branch, HQ AFROTC Registrar, and HQ AFROTC Director of Operations (DO). As the Chief of the AFROTC Scholarship Branch, Watson supervised all scholarships for over 5,000 students across the nation with a budget exceeding 22 million dollars a year. During his tenure in the Scholarship Branch and as Registrar, he created and implemented one of the most powerful recruiting tools in AFROTC history. The scholarship program he created, the Professional Officers Corps Incentive Scholarship (POCI), reversed adverse enrollment trends and saved millions in expenditures. Watson was also a key decision-maker for Air Force relations with the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and created scholarships aimed specifically for HBCUs. To enhance officer development, he instituted the first chapter of the Air Force Cadet Officer Mentoring Action Program (AFCOMAP) at Maxwell AFB. To complement the mentoring program, he developed a national AFCOMAP award to recognize the top HBCU cadet each year. In additional to his Howard University engineering degree, Watson holds a master’s degree from Chapman College of Orange, California in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management. Watson is married to the former Joice P. Middleton of Columbia, South Carolina. They have a daughter, Alexandria, and a son, Walter III. They have two grandsons, Isaiah and Sage Watson.