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Colonel David J. Kramer
Colonel David J. Kramer
Detachment 159 Alumni, circa 1977
June 6, 1976, is a date which, for several reasons, holds great significance for me. First, it was my commissioning date and the start of a long awaited journey. Secondly, it was the 32nd anniversary of D-Day and a quite significant date for an amateur WWII historian. Lastly, the year 1976 – the celebration of our nation’s Bicentennial. It was a tremendous way to begin my journey in the Air Force.
In December, my wife Linda and I packed up and left Orlando for Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather AFB. Nine months later, I had my wings and was headed to Blytheville AFB as a Distinguished Graduate in a KC-135. No GPS, no inertial system, just a radar, a compass, a doppler, and a sextant. Did manage to find England a couple of times. Soon after becoming an instructor navigator and desiring a window seat, I began to apply for UPT. With tremendous support from my squadron commander, I arrived at Laughlin AFB as part of class 82-08, graduating as the #1 student in the class – the culmination of a dream which began as a four year old hearing a sonic boom in his Cedar Rapids Iowa backyard!
Assigned to Seymour Johnson AFB in March 1983, I progressed through the normal SAC upgrade programs before departing as an aircraft commander for KI Sawyer AFB in October 1985. My assignment there was pivotal to my career. I became an instructor, was named a flight commander, participated in my first significant contingency operation in El Dorado Canyon, and became the wing executive officer, which provided me with my first real look at the wider AF. I was then assigned to the 55th SRW Offutt AFB in the EC-135 Looking Glass. From there, I was selected for a staff assignment at HQ SAC. With the AF reorganization in 1992 and the drawdown following the end of the Cold War, more than 400 staff pilots were attempting to return to the cockpit. There were 40 of us selected, and I reported to Minot AFB in June 1992 as the Chief of Training. Eighteen months later, I was selected as the Operations Officer for the 91 ARS at Malmstrom AFB and served as the ops officer and later squadron commander until I was placed in charge of moving the entire air refueling group to MacDill AFB. Upon completion of the move, I was left looking for a job. What followed was the greatest educational experience in my life.
Gen John Becker, Wg/CC at MacDill, offered me – a dyed in the wool operator – the position of Deputy Commander within the Support Group. For the next 30 months, I was indoctrinated into everything support. While I knew there was a support group on base, I never imagined the breadth of responsibility it held. And to cap off this tour, I was made the interim Civil Engineering Squadron commander for four months. Then, as a newly minted O-6, I departed for Grand Forks AFB and returned to the operational world as the Ops Group deputy. This was a greatly appreciated “break” following my assignment at MacDill. While there, however, I did have the opportunity to work with two squadron commanders who would later become general officers: Maj Gen Susan Desjardins, with whom I had also served at Seymour, and Gen David Allvin – you might know him. Not sure I imparted any deep knowledge to them, but it is fun to think I might have.
We next left for Scott AFB to work as a Senior Controller in the TACC. Two months after my arrival, 9/11 changed our world forever. Needless to say, it was an incredibly busy 11 months as I was assigned as the Director of the AMC battle staff. There was way too much Facetime and phone time with general officers. When they want something, they want it now. Then, having been there less than a year, I received orders to the ARW at McConnell as the Vice Commander. This was by far the most rewarding assignment of my career. Knowing the KC-135 weapon system as I did, coupled with all those months in the support group, the AF had unknowingly well prepared me for this assignment. Again, as at Grand Forks, I worked with squadron commanders who would later become general officers: Brig Gen John Michel, Maj Gen Scott Smith, Lt Gen Sam Barrett, and Gen Jackie Van Ovost.
While there, Gen Becker, the 15AF/CC, sent me to Shaikh Isa AB Bahrain to command the 384th AEW, the largest air refueling wing in theater, from February through July of 2003, clearly the highlight of my career. I was also given the opportunity to command the wing at McConnell for six months in 2005 while my wing commander was deployed. Upon her return, it was time to call it a career.
This story, to me, talks about how anyone can progress through the ranks. Clearly, many details are omitted here that would show how day-to-day work allows you to build your experiences. This story is no different from the countless others who have also served the AF and our country. I hope this can be your story as well.
Check out Colonel Kramer's Air Force bio to learn more about his fascinating journey and story!
Lieutenant Colonel David M. Mahan
Lieutenant Colonel David M. Mahan
Detachment 159 Alumni, circa 2003
Lt Col David Mahan is the Commander, 1st Air Force, Detachment 3, Patrick SFB, FL. Detachment 3 (Human Space Flight Support Office) is the only full-time unit tasked to provide DoD support to the nation’s crewed space flight programs and is responsible for worldwide astronaut rescue, recovery and retrieval, medical operations, as well as nominal and contingency landing site support.
Lt Col Mahan was commissioned in 2003 through the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Central Florida. He attended Space and Missile Operations training at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California and received qualifications in both the Peacekeeper and Minuteman III ICBM weapon systems. In 2006, he completed Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Moody AFB, Georgia, followed by Laughlin AFB, Texas. After receiving his wings, Lt Col Mahan’s first operational flying assignment was in the C-17A at Charleston AFB, South Carolina. After completing his operational tour, he completed two assignments as a T-6A Instructor Pilot, teaching future USAF and International pilots, as well as Combat Systems Officers, in the T-6A Texan II. Prior to his current assignment, he served as Director of Operations, 1st Air Force, Detachment 3 where he was responsible for operations for worldwide astronaut rescue, nominal recovery, capsule retrieval, medical operations, and landing site support.
Lt Col Mahan has accumulated over 2,500 flight hours and deployed multiple times in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN. He provided intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support, from the USCENTCOM Joint Operations Center, for Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.
Check out Lt Col Mahan's Air Force bio to learn more about his fascinating journey and story!
Are you interested in being a resource for your Alma Mater and inspiring the next generation of USAF/USSF leaders? If so, please fill out the form below to subscribe to future Detachment 159 newsletters and be considered for our "Alumni Spotlight" in future editions.
The Alumni Spotlight is a great opportunity to share your experiences and success after completing your ROTC journey. It allows you to reflect on your experiences, the lessons you learned, and how they have helped you navigate your current path.
As an alumni, you can inspire and motivate others by sharing your success story. It can also help those who have completed their military journey but are struggling to find their footing outside the civilian world by giving them a perspective on what's possible.
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