Bob Gilloon:  

Hi :) Since leaving Wahlert I married the girl of my dreams, the former Kathy Jo Hodges (Senior High, class of '69), who blessed us both with three wonderful sons, Bobby, Scott and Todd. In 1974 we settled in the Jacksonville, FL area, where Kath and the kids resided, through October of 2011, while I was often deployed down range/overseas, and training with friendly foreign military services throughout the world; a truly eye-opening, educational, exciting and humbling experience all around. Following graduation (Summa cum laud, Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of North Florida in 1985, Kathy began a career as an elementary school teacher that spanned 20 years. Upon completing her MS degree in Library Science Kathy worked as a librarian for another five years, passing away in October 2011 following a courageous battle with cancer. I entered the US Navy in 1971, earning my bachelors degree (Southern Illinois Univ, Summa cum laud) in 1979, and my masters degree in 1995 (Webster University, summa cum laud). Throughout two plus decades of service I had the privilege of serving with some of the world’s best special operators, serving as both an anti submarine warfare intelligence collection aircrewman (VP-56, VP-30, VS-24) and certified search and rescue (SAR) swimmer/instructor; (HS-9, HSW 1). Additional service in various commands included CSFW Atlantic, and the Pentagon. While at the latter, I served as the senior briefing officer for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Crowe, and twice had the privilege of briefing in person the President of the United States. During one particular assignment (HS-1, NAS Jax, FL, 1985-‘88) I was honored to serve under two hats as the US Navy’s (east coast) Search and Rescue (SAR) Training officer, and Aircrew Rescue Swimmer Training Officer. During Desert Storm I assisted HCS-9 with their pre-deployment Combat SAR preparations and training. Upon graduation and commissioning as an officer (AOCS Class 2179, Pensacola, FL) I attended the US Navy Intelligence Officer Training School in Denver, CO. Upon graduation I began service as an Operational (air, sea and land) Intelligence Officer, collecting hard intelligence on our nations adversaries, and using information gained to assist “operators” in planning for possible combat missions in the event of hostilities. Additional assignments and duties are as presented in the previous/above paragraph. Throughout my USN career (9 overseas deployments of 6 mos or more, and countless joint training assignments with allied forces), if there were tasks, assignments and missions I completed successfully, it was due (first and foremost to the selfless support of my late wife and best friend, Kathy) to the amazing leadership of those senior officers I worked for, and the professional skill and acumen of the teams of officers, enlisted personnel and civilians with whom I was humbled to be associated. It was a combination of their ever obvious dedication, decision making skills, bravery, courage (the latter two being related, but not essentially the same) and profess...Expand for more