Edwin “Ed” Humphreys III, Maintenance

71st SOS, Nha Trang, 1968-69

I was born September 28, 1943, in Big Springs, Texas. My father was active-duty Air Force so we moved a great deal. I graduated from Bellevue High School, Bellevue, Nebraska, in 1961. I earned my Air Force commission through the AFROTC program upon completing my bachelor’s degree at the University of Mississippi in 1966. In 1976 I earned a master’s of science from Troy State University, Troy, Alabama.

Upon arriving in Vietnam during July 1968, I was initially assigned as Officer in Charge of the Fabrication Branch, 14th Field Maintenance Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing at Nha Trang AB. I was subsequently reassigned to the 71st Special Operations Squadron as the first active duty Maintenance Officer for the AC-119G “Shadow” gunships. I flew several combat missions with the 71st SOS. As the main maintenance support base for the AC-119G, I also flew ferry and combat missions to the 71st SOS operating locations at Tan Son Nhut AB and Phan Rang AB.

In July 1969 I was reassigned to the 55th Organizational Maintenance Squadron (SAC), Offutt AFB, Nebraska and in 1971 was selected as an aircrew member on the SAC EC-135 Airborne Command Post (“Looking Glass”) where I accumulated over 5,000 hours on the airborne battle staff. I served as 89th Organizational Maintenance Squadron Commander, 89th Military Airlift Wing (MAC), Andrews AFB, Maryland with responsibility for maintaining “Air Force One” as well as the rest of the presidential fleet and other special mission aircraft. In July 1983, I became Chief, Logistics Assignment Branch (Palace Log), Headquarters Air Force Military Personnel Center, and in 1987 became Deputy Commander for Maintenance for the 3246th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida. I also served as Group Commander of the newly created 100th Regional Support Group at RAF Mildenhall AB, UK before retiring in January 1994.

After a year of retirement, I went to work in March 1995 for MTC Technologies, Inc, a defense contractor, moving through the corporate structure to become a Senior Vice President and officer before moving to General Dynamics Information Technology in November 2007 where I am currently employed as a Senior Director working strategic business development opportunities. I am married to Sue and have three children – Cole, Jennifer, and Jeff.