Presentation Date: June 24, 2018
James P. (Jim) Dutcher. Jr., United States Air Force, Captain (Retired) edited by Ken Evans
OVERVIEW:
-- Born during the early years of WWII and raised in a military family.
-- Served 20 years in the Air Force in Tactical Systems, Flight Test, Research & Development, Satellite Systems and National Intelligence (research, development, and operations).
-- More than 2,000 flight hours in EC-135N aircraft in test support to NASA, the US Military, Intelligence Agencies and Civilian (Foreign and Domestic) Space systems.
-- Worked more than 20 years as a civilian in high tech, supporting National Intelligence and Space Programs.
Academic background:
-- Undergraduate: Applied Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
-- Graduate: Systems Engineering (Management)
Childhood:
Jim’s father:
-- was an Air Force pilot who served in WWII, the Berlin Airlift, and on early missile testing/operations.
-- trained under Dr. Wernher von Braun and his group which became the first military team to launch the Jupiter C IRBM from Cape Canaveral, FL.
-- at Vandenberg AFB, CA, helped develop a special missile systems “Go Code” designed to survive a surprise attack and order a counterattack.
Jim:
-- grew up in a world of aircraft, rockets, heroes and legends.
-- had a ringside seat to observe US Air Force aircraft and missile evolution in its early stages.
-- was privileged to witness many pioneering events that led to our modern Air Force weapon systems.
-- took every opportunity to listen to and talk with the pioneers who were his heroes. He was hooked and the Air Force was calling.
Adulthood:
Jim answered the Air Force’s call; his career began as an enlisted man on a Tactical Missile Combat Team. He was a Missile Guidance Systems Specialist, Flight Control Specialist, and Instructor for Tactical Missiles for more than six years. He also participated in live fire exercises at Cape Canaveral, FL.
Afterwards, he:
-- was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
-- flew on flight tests for the Apollo moon program and Skylab.
-- provided airborne telemetry support for NASA deep space probes, DoD missile tests, satellite operations and recovery, ECM countermeasures, antiballistic missile tests and development, and numerous other air and space R&D and operational programs.
Jim flew classified operations throughout the world staging out of Africa, South America, Central America, Australia, Asia, Europe and almost any place that had a long runway. He spent time on various islands in the Pacific / Atlantic / Indian Oceans and the Bering Sea. Jim wrapped up his USAF career working in Space Systems and in National Intelligence. He was selected for promotion to Major and nominated to fly on the Space Shuttle as a Payload Specialist.
Under contract to our National Intelligence organizations, Jim was the Director of Intelligence Operations, Europe, throughout the 1980’s with offices in USEUCOM, J2 Patch Barracks at Stuttgart, Germany and USASFE IN at Ramstein AB, Germany.
Jim's area of responsibility included the European Theater of Operations, North Africa, and the Middle East. He worked closely with other NATO and non-NATO countries’ Intelligence activities in support of US National interests. Jim returned home in 1989, the year the Berlin Wall came down, and continued to work on Research, Development, and Operations of DoD, National Intelligence and Space systems.
Jim and his wife Erika have three adult children, a daughter in law and two grandchildren. The couple resides in Pleasanton.