Nancy Stilwagen:  

Life To back up a bit, in high school I was in the Band and the Chorus (alto section). My best friends were Marie Kadlec and Lora Dihrberg. Well, after high school, I spent 3 years at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC earning a 2-year degree in Interior Design. I went to work for a wallpaper showroom, then Pergament's, then back to the showroom. I spent the summer of 1974 living at Lora's house and generally raising hell. Then I became a school bus driver, and cocktail waitress at Centereach Lanes. I enlisted the Air Force in 1976, and was sent to San Antonio, TX for Basic Training. Then off to Biloxi, MS for technical school, where I was trained as an Airborne Communications Systems specialist, and played in the Keesler AFB Marching Band. My first assignment was at Hickam AFB in Hawaii (tough duty!). After 2 years, I had the opportunity to work on my Bachelors Degree and get a commission. So I got out of the AF and attended Chaminade University of Honolulu, earning a degree in Business Administration. Back to the AF, where I was sent to Andrews AFB, MD and worked in administration. Boring! I asked to become an Aircraft Maintenance Officer, and was sent to school in Rantoul, IL - Chanute AFB. Subsequently went to Omaha to work in a squadron maintaining RC-and EC-135 aircraft, (reconnaisance and Looking Glass) and the E-4, which was the President's Airborne Command Post. Tired of Midwest winters and summers, my next location was near Madrid, Spain, in a maintenance squadron for F-16 fighters. I progressed there to the Chief of Maintenance staff and ran the training division for the region. I was fortunate enough to be able to travel for business to Germany, Greece, Italy and Turkey. 3 years later, back to the US and an assignment to Warner-Robins AFB, just south of Macon, GA. The wing consisted of KC-135 refueling tankers. While there, I headed the Maintenance Control Division, Logistics Division and the Quality Assurance Division.The work was goo...Expand for more