It was early summer 1969 and “There I was…” just graduated from Tufts University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, and as a newly minted US Air Force 2nd Lieutenant beginning what would turn out to be a 21-year adventure in the US Air Force. The first chapter of this adventure was Undergraduate Pilot Training at Craig AFB, Selma, Alabama. I learned the Air Force way of flying in the T-41, T-37 and T-38 aircraft. On my way towards earning my wings, I also earned the first of many “squadron call signs – Stump” thanks to my “vertically challenged stature”.
After earning my wings, July 1970, it was off to fly the Air Force’s premier tactical airlifter – the C-130E Hercules progressing from co-pilot up to instructor pilot flying multiple deployments to Europe and one particularly satisfying drought relief mission to the Republic of Chad in Africa. Long hot days in 100-degree heat in the Saharan and Sahel regions of Chad.
My time in the “Herc” was during the height of the Cold War, and I was proud to have been chosen to be a Berlin Corridor pilot during my European deployments. My squadron call sign at the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron was “Stand-up Ron” or just “Stand Up” and came about from my time behind the podium as a mission briefer.
The next chapter took me to the 1st Cavalry Division, Ft. Hood, Texas as an Airlift Liaison Officer. While there, I personally trained several thousand soldiers in how to plan airlift loadouts on aircraft from their own CH-47 Chinook to the C-5A Galaxy and how to request airlift support during deployments. I also flew the O-2A to maintain flight proficiency. And thanks to my fighter pilot colleagues I was christened with “Shorthaul” as my personal call sign. Having a mechanical engineering degree directed my next chapter to the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, California as a flight test engineer supporting special weapons flight tests and being qualified in and flying in the T-38, all models of the F-4, and B-52.
I progressed from branch chief to Deputy Range Division Chief, upgrading my position to fly the O-2 as pilot in command. I also illustrated briefings for my team and the Engineering Directorate, and designed the Clarence “Kelly” Johnson Trophy for the Society of Flight Test Engineers, which is on permanent display in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D. C. While at Edwards I completed the requirements for a Master of Science degree in management science.
Then it was on to the Republic of Korea for a one-year unaccompanied tour with the USAF’s Plans Division, also supporting the United Nations Command and 8th US Army host unit. I was then assigned to Air Force Systems Command Headquarters in the Test and Evaluation Directorate at Andrews AFB providing support to electronic warfare and space systems, including the Space Shuttle.
I was selected to attend the Defense Systems Management College Program Managers course which led to my almost final assignment – Deputy Program Manager for Test for a combined US Navy-USAF electronic warfare system. The Air Force exited the program, and I finished my Air Force career in the Air Force’s Test and Evaluation office of the Air Staff in the Pentagon retiring after 21 years of service in 1990 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
The next major chapter in my story was continuing to serve the Department of Defense as a Scientific, Engineering and Technical Advice contractor and consultant for the next 30 years. The first step down this road was supporting the Strategic Defense Initiative Office developing a reusable rocket system that would be used to launch SDIO’s space assets. This system, the McDonnell-Douglas DC-X, made its first of 12 flights just 2 years after the contract award.
I had the privilege and honor to work side-by-side with many top-notch rocket scientists and engineers developing aircraft-like systems and operations, specifically with Charles “Pete” Conrad – Appollo astronaut and 3rd man to walk on the moon. I then worked on the early development of the reusable spaceplane system that is now flying in orbit as the X-37B. Following that, I provided test operations and support to the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s (DARPA’s) Hypersonic Test Vehicle effort.
I identified, arranged, scheduled and ensured all the air, land, sea and space-based tracking and other support systems were deployed and ready for the two HTV flight tests from Vandenberg AFB, CA to the Reagan Test Site at the Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. My final civilian work chapter was supporting another DARPA reusable launch vehicle program up until the prime contractor exited the effort. This was right at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic which became my “full retirement” date – March 2020.
I have been married to my wife, Rachael, for 56 years; she traveled with and supported me through my entire military and civilian adventure. We have one son, Eric, who is married to the former Heather Tatum. Both Eric and Heather are graduates of the College of William and Mary. They live and work in northern Virginia and do not have any children.
In early to mid-2016 I had been plagued by the “old man’s” issue of excessive nighttime urination and sought the care of a urologist. In determining the cause of my issue, he found growths on my kidneys and assured me that 95% of the time they are benign – but I was a “5 percenter” and my growths were cancerous. In November of 2016 I went to have them removed and came out with a full nephrectomy (right side) as the growth was too close to my renal arteries and veins. This was followed in February 2017 with a partial nephrectomy (left side) and combined all the cancers were removed.
I continued follow-up visits with my nephrologist which identified my remaining kidney as failing in 2024. We decided that peritoneal dialysis (PD) was my preferred option. In January 2025 I had the PD catheter inserted and began my nightly dances with the PD system in March 2025. Since the kidney failure and dialysis is sapping my strength and endurance I am hoping for a kidney transplant to complete many more chapters in my adventure including travel to visit friends, family and various sites, return to volunteering at the Albuquerque Zoo, and doing artwork and picking up my exercise routine (expanding it to include swimming).
For medically cleared donors, giving the gift of life through living kidney donation has been proven to be very safe. DOVE will assist all prospective donors throughout the process and make sure they do not incur any out-of-pocket expenses related to the evaluation or surgery. A healthy person can live a normal life with one kidney and save Ron‘s life with the other!
Your support, whether through spreading the word on social media or considering becoming a donor, can make a profound impact on his life and the life of his family!
Please click on the link below if you would like to learn more OR call (551) 233-1611