Gray's Air Force Career Retrospective
Gray learned long ago that there's no such thing as a "typical" Air Force career. In fact, one of his early commanders remarked that he had never found out what the "real Air Force" was ... and neither did Gray. Gray retired from the Air Force in 2006, so it seemed like a good idea to consider how his career unfolded.
1986-1990: Edwards Air Force Base, California
Great experience as a Bioenvironmental Engineer and Systems Safety Program Manager for the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory; the name changed twice while Gray was there, but it'll always be the "Rocket Lab" to him. Fought two fires at the lab -- one involving monomethyl hydrazine and one red phosphorus -- and worked on many exciting programs including the Space Shuttle (response team member for four landings at Edwards), Titan, and Pegasus.
On the personal side, Gray and Jill's daughter Stephanie was born at Edwards. Jill tried her hand at horse ownership. And we met a lot of great people -- too many to list -- with whom we're still in touch.
1990-1993: Air Force ROTC Detachment 770, Clemson University, South Carolina
Returned to Clemson on "the other side of the desk." Taught several wonderful cohorts of officer candidates and advised the Arnold Air Society service organization -- ironic because Gray never joined when he was in school. Finished writing Quality Education, which was published by the American Society for Quality Control's Quality Press.
Before this tour even started, in August 1990, Gray inquired about going to Iraq. Saddam Hussein's troops had just invaded Kuwait and the build-up of Operation DESERT SHIELD was just beginning; however, the Air Force elected not to send Gray to the desert.
Gray and Jill's son Christopher was born. Jill spent a week with friends in New Mexico and left Gray at home with the two tiny children, and they all lived to tell the tale. We enjoyed being closer to home -- only a five-hour drive from the beach.
1993-1995: Vandenberg AFB, California
A wide variety of experiences, from fishing pieces of a failed Titan-IV rocket out of the Pacific Ocean (one piece of which was presented to him as a parting gift) to supervising the refurbishment of a 55-ton bridge crane. Probably would have stayed another year, but Gray applied for and was selected (#1 in the AF) to cross into space operations.
Steph started school. Jill proved her leadership potential as President of the Protestant Women of the Chapel. Chris broke his arm when he fell out of the tire swing -- because Gray pushed him too hard.
1995-1998: Falcon AFB, Colorado
"Flew" (a misnomer, but it's common parlance) the Milstar communications satellite, which relays high-priority secure messages around the world. Helped with the on-orbit checkout of the second spacecraft. Eventually became the Operations Support Flight Commander, supervising over 100 people who planned the schedules, wrote the procedures, conducted the training, and provided engineering support.
Chris started school. Steph developed Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Gray developed tumors in his spleen and had it removed. All in all a difficult three years, made tolerable only because of the great people at Springs Community Church.
1998-2000: Offutt AFB, Nebraska
Two years of ups and downs as the Operations Officer of a command and control squadron. Drove a tractor-trailer truck (a dream since second grade), and deployed with the U.S. Strategic Command Mobile Consolidated Command Center. Had difficult dealings with one commander, which Gray didn't always handle with aplomb: still regret not being able to serve him better.
Jill started home-schooling Steph and Chris, and they loved it. Steph sang in the Nebraska Children's Chorus. Chris played soccer spring and fall.
Despite the ups and downs, this remains the best assignment ever: a great team of dedicated troops, a compelling mission.
2000-2001: Thule Air Base, Greenland
Pronounced "TWO-lee." Commanded the Thule Tracking Station, the AF's largest remote tracking facility. From "phase storms" to the Polar Bear swim to igloo-building, Thule was a terrific experience.
Except for the untimely and difficult loss of her father, Jill, Steph, and Chris got spoiled by living at the beach for a year -- they rented a home on what used to be Myrtle Beach AFB.
Jill walked the dogs on the beach almost every morning while Gray froze above the Arctic Circle. Steph took up the flute; Chris took up the violin. To while away the hours up north, Gray took up the guitar and finally learned more than just three chords -- and wrote his first (and deservedly unpublished) novel.
2001-2004: Alexandria, Virginia
2004-2006: The Pentagon
Monitored technical interchanges between US and foreign companies to ensure no critical space technologies were transferred. Spent 3 weeks at sea for the Galaxy-3C mission with Sea Launch. Accompanied the Nimiq-2 spacecraft from Sunnyvale, California, to Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, and monitored the launch preparation.
In September 2001, Gray had only been on the job for a couple of weeks at the Defense Technology Security Administration. In fact, he was still waiting for his training to begin, so had been spending most of his time in the Pentagon. On September 10th, he spent the day with former coworkers in the Secretary of Defense's Executive Support Center, observing the progress of the kind of nuclear command and control exercise he used to participate in at Offutt. He was scheduled to be back in the ESC on September 11th, but was delayed by an appointment in Alexandria. Later, during the buildup to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Gray inquired again about going to the desert. He went so far as to contact the Air Force's expeditionary planners and arranging to replace a friend whose assignment to Qatar was being extended; this time, however, his plans were thwarted almost as soon as they were made, and the closest he came to the war zone was Kazakhstan.
Transitioned to speechwriting in May 2004. Wrote speeches and Congressional testimony for two Under Secretaries of the Air Force (one of whom was also the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office) and one Acting Secretary of the Air Force. A fantastic opportunity with a great team of professionals and warriors, and an acceptable way to end a career.
Jill earned her BA in Art at George Mason University, with a minor in Biology. Steph graduated from high school just after Jill graduated from college. Chris broke his arm playing soccer, whereupon he took up skateboarding and "freerunning" (much to his parents' chagrin). Steph sang in the Virginia State Honors Chorus. Gray joined the praise band and the whole family got involved at Central Christian Church. And, finally, Gray took up fiction writing with a greater passion than ever -- we'll see if it leads anywhere now that he's retired ...