Air Force pilot receives promotion

Derek W. Howard, son of Jim and Janice Howard, was recently promoted to the rank of major in the U.S. Air Force. He was commissioned in 1994.

Since completing military pilot training in 1996, Maj. Howard has been assigned to eight different military stations. During his 10 years of military service he has flown the C-130 E-H Hercules at Dyess Air For Base, Texas; C-27A Spartan out-of-country assignment at Howard Air Force Base, Panama City, Panama; and C-17A Globe-master at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. At present, he pilots the C-17A jet transporter out of McChord Air Force Base, near Seattle, Wash.

Howard has transported troops, supplies and equipment all over the world to such locations as Africa, South America, Middle East, Far East, Australia and Russia. He has flown presidential support, space shuttle support, Vietnam re-patriotism and served as an intelligence officer at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he briefed flight crews going into the combat zone before returning to those missions himself.

The local pilot saved countless lives while delivering food and water to Hurricane Mitch victims throughout South America. During the storm and ensuing mud slides, he rescued the president of Honduras, family members and government officials who had survived after one of their residences slid from a mountainside. Waiting for the hurricane to subside, Howard was an overnight guest of the president at his official residence in the city.

He was chosen by the Air Force to re-create Lindbergh’s flight from New York to Paris at the 75th anniversary celebration of that historical event taking place in France.

He created policies and tactics for all aircrew flying at Red Flag, Green Flag and Maple Flag training schools, including Air Force, Navy, Army and Ally fighters and helicopters. He has also been offered the opportunity to attend Weapons Instructor School, which is equivalent to the Navy’s Top Gun School.

Maj. Howard holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace from Middle Tennessee State University where he received Commercial Pilot license/Airline Transport license, multi-engine and single engine FAA Flight Instructor certificates, and is pursuing a master’s degree at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He is a graduate of Warren County Senior High School.