James W. Dane
US Air Force
1973-1995
After four years in a Junior (Army) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Shattuck School in Faribault, MN, I graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, IA earning a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force through ROTC in May, 1973.
I spent a year at the University of Utah where I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology. For two years I forecast weather at HQ NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) inside Cheyenne Mountain, south of Colorado Springs.
In July, 1976 I joined the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, where I logged 23 flights into named typhoons over a two year period as well as numerous flights into smaller tropical storms. As the Mission Director onboard the Air Force's WC-130 weather reconnaissance aircraft I helped to measure the strength and path of these powerful storms.
I separated from active duty in August,1978 to return to dairy farming southwest of Iowa City. In 1979 I became an Air Force Admissions Liaison Officer for the U.S. Air Force Academy and Air Force ROTC. I served as the Director of the Area 150 (Iowa) Liaison Officers from 1986 to 1993. Even though I completed my Reserve commitment in 1995 as Major, I continued to actively serve as an Air Force Admissions Liaison Officer for the local area through 2016. I continue to be on standby or on Inactive Reserve status if needed as an Admissions Liaison Officer for the Air Force.
I married my college sweetheart, Ruth Truesdell, in 1974 and have one daughter (JJ), a son-in-law (Erik), and three grandchildren.
Medals earned: Air Medal & USAF Commendation Medal
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