Page 7 - Nellis AFB Bullseye 8-7-15

BULLSEYE
www.aerotechnews.com/nellisafb
Retired CMSgt, GS employee retires after 52 years
By Airman 1st Class Mikaley Towle
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. —
The year is 1963, U.S. President John F.
Kennedy signs a law for equal pay for
equal work for men and women, Martin
Luther King Jr. delivers his famous “I
have a dream” speech while addressing
a civil rights march at Lincoln Memorial
in Washington, D.C., and The Beatles
released their first single in the U.S.
This was also the year that John
Malone enlisted in the U.S. Air Force
from his hometown of Pittsburgh, right
after high school. Malone went on to
serve the Air Force, as a military member
and civilian, for a combined 52 years.
“I enlisted because I wanted to go to
college after finishing high school,” said
Malone. “Also, at that age I just knew
that I wanted to eventually get into the
civilian service as well. My vision was to
serve 20 years in the military and then
go into the civilian service.”
Upon entering active duty, the city boy
from Pittsburgh was assigned to Forbes
Air Force Base, Kansas — which is closed
now — as his first assignment.
“The first thing I thought about was
that it’s 1963, the TV is on and lots of
western movies were featuring cow-
boys and Indians in the Oklahoma and
Kansas region,” said Malone. “When I
got this assignment, I had never been
outside of the Pittsburgh area and for
me this was a real eye opener. Everyone
was friendly and that is where I met my
beautiful bride-to-be in Topeka, Kansas
through a catholic youth organization.”
Eventually, Malone and his fiancée,
Joyce, got engaged, and shortly after he
received orders to the Philippines for 18
months.
“Every day while I was there, Joyce wrote
me a letter and she numbered every one of
them so that way I could tell if I received
them out of order,” said Malone. “It kept
our romance alive during that time in the
military. When I came back in 1967, we got
married after being engaged for 18 months.”
Shortly after that, the next stop in
Malone’s career landed him at Norton Air
Force Base AFB in sunny San Bernardino,
California. Today Norton AFB is a Guard
base, but he still has fond memories.
“My wife and I enjoyed all that southern
California had to offer; the zoo, beaches and
Disney Land,” said Malone. “Then in March
1969 I got assigned to Phu Cat Air Base in
the Republic of Vietnam. Everyone had to
do some time in Vietnam back then.”
After serving a year at Phu Cat AB,
Malone was allowed to choose a follow-
on assignment. He elected to return to
Forbes AFB in Kansas.
“I was there from 1971 to 1973 and as-
sisted in the base closure,” said Malone. “Af-
ter that, I updated my dream sheet because
I wanted to go to Europe. My wish came
Feature
Chief Master Sgt. John Malone, right, retires after serving 26 years on active duty at a
ceremony held on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in 1990. Malone served a combined 52 years
on active duty and in civilian service.
true, because in my heart I wanted to go to
Aviano AB in Italy. I took my family with
me and spent five wonderful years there. My
youngest daughter, Keara, was born there.”
After five years in Italy, the Air Force
called Malone back to the United States, this
time bound for Cannon AFB, New Mexico.
“When I was at Cannon AFB I was in-
volved in many community organizations,
such as head soccer coach for the city, being
an Eagle Scout, I was involved as a Boy Scout
leader, parish council, as well as a leader in The year 2003 saw the start of merging
the base top three,” said Malone. “In Febru-
ary 1981, I was interviewed and selected for
a classified assignment in Las Vegas. I had
been given 24 hours to make a decision to
accept or decline.”
Malone added that, “They never told me
anything about the assignment and I had
to go home that evening and talk it over
with my wife. I said ‘Hun, we can stay here
because this is a great family town and it
would be a great place to retire.’ I had all
these things going for me here and I was
happy. The Air Force said ‘We wanted you
and you’ll definitely make chief.’ So after a
whole night of contemplating, I told them
yes and the rest was history.”
During his time at a Data Masked as-
signment, Malone was responsible for
establishing the logistics supply support for
the F-117 Nighthawk, to include designing
and implementing the supply system for
Tonopah Test Range.
“I had a hand in the early design, con-
struction of the F-117 logistics systems.
It was an exciting thing to be a part of,”
said Malone. “It was a pleasure and honor
to work with the ‘best of the best’ in the
development of a premier weapon system.”
When the F-117 moved to Holloman
AFB, New Mexico, Malone opted not to ac-
company it. In July 1990, Chief Master Sgt.
Malone retired after 26 years and started the
7August 7, 2015
Facebook.com/NellisBullseye
Courtesy photograph ogy, because the university had supply chain
management and executive programs.
“I went back and got my certificates,” said
Malone. “The education I had always been
dreaming of had finally become a reality.
second chapter of his life, working toward Not only college, but having the opportunity
checking off a goal he set back in 1963. to attend Penn State University.”
“When the opportunity came to enter Throughout his time on active duty and
civil service, I just took it. There was no in civilian service, Malone accrued numer-
doubt,” said Malone. “You could say I could ous awards through his hard work and
make more money at other places, but you dedication. He was selected by Air Combat
have to really enjoy what you’re doing. I Command as the Logistics Readiness Senior
came into civil service in July of 1990 as the Civilian Manager of the Year four times, Air
deputy chief of supply for the TTR.” Force Association Outstanding AF Civilian
Program Manager of the Year in 2008 and
In May 1994, Malone was selected to be the Air Force Logistics Readiness Senior
the deputy chief of supply for Nellis AFB. Civilian Manager of the Year in 2012.
transportation, supply and logistics into After retiring from civilian service as a
logistics readiness squadrons. 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron logistics
manager on July 20, 2015, Malone is look-
“In 2007, the Air Force sent a team ing forward to starting the third chapter in
of members to Joint-Base San Antonio- his life in Garnett, Kansas, enjoying family,
Randolph, Texas to help determine how friends and travel while he is still healthy
LRS would function and how the different and able. In 2017, Malone and his wife are
flights would break out and function,” said looking forward and planning a trip with
Malone. “It was nice to be a member of that their children Michelle, Shawn, and Keara
team and make an early footprint in the LRS to Ireland to celebrate their 50th wedding
formation.” anniversary.
For the 99th LRS, some highlights of “I am blessed to have a wonderful wife
direct program involvement in establishing and family and they were very much a
logistics support included working with the part in making my career successful,” said
F-22 Raptor, the 64th and 65th Aggressors Malone.
squadrons, the F-35A Lightning II, and
MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. Before he departs, Malone had some
words of wisdom for younger Airmen and
“What we’re really here for is for the his civilian counterparts navigating their
rubber meeting the ramp and to ensure the way through the Air Force.
fighter pilots get the combat training. Some
ways LRS has done that is by ensuring that “Enjoy it while you can because 52 years
the aircrafts get fuel, parts and equipment goes by awfully fast,” said Malone. “Next
is provided on time and on target, and solid thing you know, you’ll look back and won-
logistics plans are in place,” said Malone. der where all the time went. Take the good
“Our young Airmen and civilian force in the out of an assignment and create memories.
LRS have done an outstanding job in com- The friends that you make in the military, if
ing together in supporting our war fighters they’re true friends, I don’t think you’ll ever
at Nellis AFB and Creech AFB.” lose them. They will be there.”
Malone realized his dream of further- He also encourages young Airmen that
ing his education when he graduated from no matter what career field you are in, do
University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He also the best you can while you’re there, even if
attended Pennsylvania State University you are getting out in four years.
through the Air Force Institute of Technol-
“My mom and dad have passed and are
not here for me to say ‘hey look what I did,’
but in my heart I know they are proud,” said
Malone. “You have to find a balance in your
life. Make up the difference when you’re
taking from you’re family to give to the Air
Force. You have to find ways to give back to
your family because that’s one of the most
things you can have. I have to say to my Air
Force family, thank you for an exciting and
wonderful ride.”
After more than 25 years of service at
Nellis AFB, Malone is going to be missed by
the people who knew and worked with him.
Malone’s longtime friend Joseph Diro-
sario, 99th Mission Support Group deputy
director of installation support said, “He’s
a great friend and teammate, who is very
knowledgeable and always willing to help.
It’s been a joy working with him and I’m
going to miss him. He’s been a great asset
to Nellis AFB over many years.”