Richard Beaman - NA3P

Military Bio:

I always had a desire to be a pilot, therefore the Air Force seemed the logical choice. As it turned out the pilot slots were limited especially for ROTC Cadets, so I picked the next best job in a cockpit with flight controls, the F4 Phantom II.

I was in the service for a career at first. Due to a drawdown and fewer promotion opportunities, I left active duty and eventually finished my career part-time with the National Guard and Reserve.

I spent my active-duty days supporting the Cold War. I spent many days sitting behind a barbed-wire fence in West Germany waiting for the claxons to go off, then run to the aircraft shelter for a scramble. We never knew if it was a real alert or just practice until they read us the "message". Some fun.

Even though my job as an F4 WSO and EWO was dangerous even in peacetime, I never worried about "buying the farm" because I had faith in my pilot, my training and my Martin-Baker ejection seat. I never, thank God, had to use the Martin-Baker! I know a few who did, some did not come home to talk about their experience.

My favorite assignment while in the Air Force was my assignment at Clark Air Base, Philippines. My spouse is from the PI and I was able to meet her family and learn the Philippine culture. The Filipinos are great people. I also enjoyed my assignment to Alaska, the last frontier. It was beautiful and my job allowed me to experience the outdoors every day. I ran the central Alaskan bombing and gunnery ranges out of Eielson AFB. We had the US Military's largest fleet of 4-wheelers and snow machines (aka snowmobiles). I was able to earn my single and multi-engine pilot's licenses out of the Eielson AFB Aero Club. Expensive but man was that a blast. The best way to see Alaska is by air.

From my experiences in the Air Force, mainly traveling to third world countries, I got a better appreciation for having the good fortune to be an American. I always had a safe place to sleep, meals on the table, etc. Not so for many others in less fortunate countries.

The achievement I am most proud of from my military days was earning my Master of Science degree from the University of Southern California. I took my classes at night mainly on Air Force bases. You can have all the medals, most of which were just end of tour presents or results of political prowess or been there done that type awards.

My most memorable award from the military was my Certificate of Retirement. I also received a certificate of appreciation from George Bush. OK, it was a copy of his signature, but it's the thought that counts.

My best Air Force mentor was probably my Professor of Aerospace Studies at WVU, Colonel Brent A. Cool (aka B Cool). He was a Master Navigator and an example of what an Air Force Officer should be like. B. Cool.

One of my best Air Force friends was a pilot. We were next-door neighbors and Clark AB. We studied several Masters classes together and spent many TDY together in garden spots like Osan AB, Korea and Okinawa. Now he is a retired Lt Col out in Arizona. I liked his "who gives a shit" attitude and he was never a political animal. Amazing he got promoted to Lt Col! Too bad all my old Air Force associates live so far away.

I got in hot water with the Wing Commander when I was a 1st Lt in Germany after getting bit by my pet cat in the alert facility while on alert. They had to pull me off alert status to check out the cat bite. Not funny at the time but it was very funny in hindsight.

After service, I spent a couple of years in private industry before coming back to the Department of Defense as a civilian. I spent most of my civilian years as a Cartographer and later as an Imagery Analyst. I retired in 2017 from NGA.

I am a member of the Society of Wild Weasels, Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, VFW, and the American Legion.

I always had a "get er done' attitude at work, and the Air Force reinforced that work ethic. I never let any obstacle stop me in like, in work, in education, or in love.

The best way to succeed in the Air Force is possibly to do your job and not complain too much. If you have a beef with management, it is best handled at the lowest, informal level. If I would have followed this advice, I might have made General!

Ham Radio Bio:

I was first licensed in 1972 as WN3UHK at the age of 16.  At the age of 17, I had upgraded to amateur advanced class with callsign WA3UHK. I have had other callsigns over the past half century including KF6ME, WV4M and NH7L. I operated from Kirchberg, Germany as DA1JF and WA3UHK/DU2 and KF6ME/DU2 in Angeles City, Philippines and portable KF6ME/KL7 in North Pole, Alaska. I have also had stations in Maryland, West Virginia, California, New Mexico, Florida, Ohio and Virginia.

I am married to Sally since 1979 who I met on my first Air Force assignment in Sacramento, California. I have one son, Jason, who is an Iraq War veteran in the USMC and an employee of NOAA in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

I am a graduate of WVU in Morgantown, WV (Mechanical Engineering) and USC in Los Angeles, CA (Systems Management). I am now retired living in Culpeper, Virginia.

Currently I am active on HF, UHF, VHF all modes including FT-8, PSK-31 and DStar. My favorite mode is CW. I am also an avid aviator and a certified flight instructor in single engine aircraft. I am also a member of the Skyline Soaring Group, a glider club, in Front Royal, Virginia.

Richard Beaman - NA3P, AFFC #668