Eric Plura:
CLASS OF 1977
Schalmont High SchoolClass of 1977
Schenectady, NY
University of MassachusettsClass of 1992
Lowell, MA
Union CollegeClass of 1983
Schenectady, NY
Community College of the Air ForceClass of 1980
Montgomery, AL
Schalmont Middle SchoolClass of 1973
Schenectady, NY
Eric's Story
Life:
Met a wonderful woman while stationed in Oklahoma City (she's actually also from NY; near White Plains area) and we were married on May 10, 1987. My son, Christopher was born on April 20, 1990, and graduated from high school on June 1, 2008. In September 2000, we traveled to China to adopt my daughter, Amanda, who will graduate from high school in 2018. Life is great!
College:
Earned an Assoc. degree in Avionics System Tech. from the Community College of the Air Force. Got a BS Elec. Engr. from Union College during AFROTC. I graduated from the Air Force's Squadron Officer School in Alabama (went one week after my son was born...wife was NOT happy!). In 1992, I earned a Master of Mgmt Science in Manufacturing Engineering (night school - no exciting frat parties...hey, I had a two year old at home!) In 1997, I graduated from the Air Force's Air Command & Staff College. In 2002 I completed a Master of Acquisition Management from the American Graduate University (I talked the government into paying for the whole thing...your tax dollars at work!). Finally, in Dec. '06, I graduated from Air War College (the LAST military schooling I needed! FINALLY!!)
Workplace:
Other than my service in the military, I worked as an engineer for the Dept. of Defense at the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) at the Bell Helicopter plant, overseeing the V-22 Osprey tilitrotor and AH-1W and AH-1Z helicopter contracts from May 1993 - Aug 2000. In Aug 2000, I transferred over to the DCMA office at Lockheed Martin in Ft Worth, and oversaw the F-22 Raptor and Joint Strike Fighter programs. In Oct 2001, I was selected for a promotion opportunity at the South...Expand for more
west Regional Office of the FAA in Ft Worth, and was working there as a Navigation/Communications Evaluation Engineer until Feb 17th, when I was promoted to the position of Manager, Technical Evaluation Team, in the Quality Control Group (FAA). In June 2008, I added the Safety Inspection function, with the addition of 8 safety inspectors. Their function will be to annually inspect 100% of all manned FAA facilities in the Central US, from the Dakotas down to Brownsville, TX. On October 3, 2016, I accepted a transfer to become the Manager of the Cost Estimating Team (wanted to take on a new challenge). Although I was eligible to retire from the federal government in April 2015 (had 33.5 years by then), my plans are to stay at least until my daughter graduates from High School (2018), and possibly up until 2021, to give me about 40 years credit towards my civilian retirement...unless I win big on the lottery before then!
Military:
Enlisted in the Air Force and went to boot camp on July 12, 1977 (not much time to enjoy being a high school grad!)
Was awarded an ROTC scholarship to Union College and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in June 1983. Spent 5 years at Tinker AFB outside of Oklahoma City and then did another 4 in Hanscom AFB near Boston. Left active duty as a Captain in December 1992 and went into the active Reserves Dec. 1993, serving at Tinker again until 2003. Was promoted to LtCol in the Air Force Reserves in June 2004 and was serving until June 2011, supporting the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) in Dallas, TX. I retired from the USAF/USAFR as a Lt. Col., on July 1, 2011 with 30 years, 5 months, and 22 days of military service.
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