Lt.Col. Jerry Glasser, USAF (RET.)

Graduating from pilot training in 1967 – Jerry has flown the F-4D, F-5E/F, C-130 , A-37, T-38  & has over 900 hrs. in the SR-71 – flown from 1980-86’. An instructor pilot & simulator training director he flew 110 world-wide operational sorties.  Jerry  flew the 1^st Libyan post-strike sortie with his RSO, Ron Tabor, & “interesting” SR-71 Space Shuttle integrated sensor support missions & coordinated NAVY F-14 intercept sorties.  After retirement Jerry  taught Physics, Math & Robotics @ both the College & H.S. level & is an active educational speaker in the Sacramento /regional area.

Col. Frank Stampf, USAF (RET.)

Frank entered the USAF in 1970. His first operational assignment was as a Weapons Systems Officer in the RF-4C, the recon version of the F-4 Phantom II fighter aircraft. In 1979, after logging seven years and 1600 hours in the RF-4C, Frank became the youngest Reconnaissance Systems Officer selected to date for the SR-71 program. Frank and his pilot, Gil Bertelson, were named “15th Air Force Outstanding Reconnaissance Crew” for 1982.

Col. Buz Carpenter, USAF (RET.)

Buz Carpenter (Col) USAF (Ret) USAF Academy  graduate  & completed pilot training in 1968. Then commanded the C-141 worldwide and flew the RF-4C in Vietnam. Accepted into the SR-71 program & became an Instructor pilot with over 230 flights with over 65 operational missions. Served as the Pentagon Black World programmer for the F-117, B-2, F-22. Later commanded a F-4E fighter squadron & was a Wing commander in Europe during Desert Storm. Today he shares his stories at events, in videos, and at the Smithsonian Air & Space Udvar Hazy Center. Buz is a member of the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame.

SMSgt. Mike Relja, USAF (RET.)

Mike entered the Air Force in 1966. He was the first staff Sgt. To crew the SR-71B (trainer) As a maintenance control technician, Mike served in all aspects of the program including multiple  recoveries and deployments. During the operational  deactivation Mike was responsible for the disposition of all SR-71 production materials. He then  worked for NASA – both on the SR-71 at Dryden  (EDW ) test center & the  (747 SP ) SOFIA,  flying observatory. In 2007 , Mike was awarded the prestigious the “Kelly Johnson” trophy for his outstanding Blackbird contributions.

Major Bob Reiser, USAF (RET.)

Bob  was an  All-source Intelligence Officer, Imagery Intelligence Officer, and Collection Manager. As Chief of the Collection Management Branch at Det4/9SRW between 1982 and 1986 he was responsible for building sensor actions into SR-71 flight paths, scheduling SR-71 missions, and coordinating theater and national collection requirements. Retired from the Air Force in 1999, Bob became a Senior Intelligence Officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) between 1999 and 2015. As the DIA Liaison Officer to the Deputy Director of Information Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Bob was in the Pentagon on 9/11.

MSgt. Butterfield, USAF (RET.)

Robby joined the USAF in 1973. He served in the Blackbird program 1982 – 1984 as a crew chief and 1984 to 1989 as a superintendent of maintenance at RAF Mildenhall, UK. He retired honorably after 20 years of service. Shortly after his retirement, an illness acquired from participation in the Gulf War paralyzed Butterfield from the neck down. He pushed through walking again, and  his resolve carries him still. After retiring from the USAF,  he  received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering & later worked for the DOD on the Tomahawk cruise missile.

Lt. Col. Ed Yeilding, USAF (RET.)

After flying the RF-4 and F-4E, Ed flew the SR-71 from 1983 -1990, flying  93 operational missions,  and became a test pilot at the Palmdale Plt.42 facility. In 1990, Ed & J.T. Vida (RSO ) set several official speed records including the Coast-to-Coast record, 67 min 54 sec, during the aircraft delivery to the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center. With the 89th Airlift Wing near Washington D.C, he flew worldwide C-20 Special Air Missions. Upon retirement He flew for Northwest Airlines, and currently tutors physics near his hometown, Florence AL.  Ed was recently honored at the March Air Museum for his extraordinary flight achievements.

MSgt. Dave Burns, USAF (RET.)

Dave served in the USAF from 1970-1990. He was an aircraft  maintenance specialist on the T-33, F-4E/G, F-111D and  OV-10 , with tours in Germany and Japan. While assigned to the SR-71 program , he was the senior crew chief of  the SR-71B trainer ( the highest time aircraft) and  received the SAC Master Crew Chief award. After retirement Dave worked for Jet Aviation Inc. as an airframe & Power plant mechanic with corporate aircraft.

Lt. Col. Bill Burk, USAF (RET.)

Bill graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training in July 1971. He served as a T-38 Instructor Pilot at Reese AFB, Lubbock, Texas. Lt. Colonel Burk was chosen to fly the U-2 aircraft at Beale AFB, California. Bill  then transitioned to the SR-71 aircraft in July 1981, flying operational missions from Mildenhall, England and Kadena AB, Japan. Lt. Col. Burk finished his tour with the SR-71 in the summer of 1985. He then was the director of Airborne Nuclear Collections Division @ Patrick AFB. After retirement, Bill flew for American Airlines.

Lt. Col. Tom Danielson, USAF (RET.)

A previous F4D/E, F-5E  &   AT-38 lead-in fighter instructor, Tom flew the SR-71 from 1985-1988 logging  400  flight  hrs . He was also a flight  simulator instructor. Following his SR -71 assignment  Tom  flew operational missions in the U-2 aircraft & accumulated 1000  flight hrs. &  served as Group Commander of U-2 operations in Saudi Arabia & Bosnia. He is the only pilot to fly the SR-71 first -then transition to the U-2 . After retirement , Tom then flew for 17 yrs. with  Delta Airlines. Currently Tom  serves as the Chairman of the Blackbird  Association.

Arnie Gunderson

Known as “Mr. J-58”, Arnie  started his career with Pratt & Whitney in 1974. He was assigned to the J-58 engine group & after five yrs. became a field rep. He spent the next ten (10) yrs. supporting SR-71 and  was director of the J-58 over-haul line. In 1989 he was the P&W  accident representative for the (974) crash in the Philippines. He currently supports the Blackbird legacy @ the Evergreen Air Museum as a docent & guest speaker. Arnie also serves as an integral member of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum Docent team.

MSgt. Floyd Jones, USAF (RET.)

Floyd Jones  entered the Airforce in 1966 and assigned to Beale AFB in 1967. Became a Crew Chief/Phase Dock Inspector. After international assignments, he returned to Beale in 1980 where he became the SR-71 Inspection Dock Chief. Later was reassigned to AF Plant 42 with the SR-71  flight Test program.

Steve Justice

Steve  retired from his “dream employer,” Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, in 2017. His experience bridges from analysis-based requirements through flight test. A Skunk Works historian – he held key roles in engineering, management & advanced design. Steve was the recipient of the “Kelly Johnson Inventor of the Year” award in 1993 & 1999. He is currently senior vice-president at  Virgin Galactic where he leads the Delta Class spaceship  production development. Yes, civilians path to space!

Col. John Manzi, USAF (RET.)

John served 23 years in the United States Air Force as a Weapon/Reconnaissance Systems Officer, Squadron Commander and staff officer at various locations throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. He accumulated more than 2,000 jet hours flying primarily in fighter and reconnaissance aircraft, to include the F-111 Aardvark, RF-4C Phantom II, and the SR-71 Blackbird. Selected for Blackbird duty in 1985, John flew as a Reconnaissance Systems Officer (RSO), Instructor RSO, and Standardization Board RSO and accumulated 465 flying hours in the SR-71.

Maj. Mac McKendree, USAF (RET)

Mac was accepted into the SR-71 program in early 1986 after flying F-111s in USAFE and TAC. Along with his RSO, Randy Shelhorse, they logged 63 operational missions from Kadena AB Japan and RAF Mildenhall UK. The longest mission flown was during the Iran/Iraq war in October ’87 consisting of 5 A/A refuelings lasting 10 hrs. 48 min. Mac and Randy remained operational until the program termination in 1990 with Mac returning to TAC to fly EF-111s during Desert Storm logging an additional 27 combat missions. After retirement he flew for UPS.