Colonel Dougherty (USAF Retired) graduated from the U of O and commissioned in 1978. A master navigator with 3,100 hours flying time in the KC-135 Stratotanker (air refueling). He earned distinction in 1985 and 1986, winning back-to-back “Best KC-135 Crew” honors in Strategic Air Command’s Bomb/Nav Competition. He later served as a KC-135 Squadron Operations Officer and as the Operations Support Squadron Commander for the world’s largest tanker wing. He completed headquarters staff assignments at Strategic Air Command, Alaskan Command, and Air Mobility Command. The colonel held senior leadership positions as Director Tanker Airlift Control Center, Deputy Director, Mobility Forces US Central Command, and as Vice Commander, 621st Contingency Response Wing. He concluded his 30-year active-duty career as Inspector General Team Chief, leading war-time readiness inspections of all Air Mobility Command Wings including Guard and Reserve Wings. He’s an Air War College graduate and holds Masters Degrees in Business Administration and Air Power Studies. He retired from active duty in 2008 and subsequently served as a Flight Dispatcher, planning and supervising airlift, air refueling, and medical evacuation missions world-wide. He retired in 2020 and moved to Oklahoma to enjoy his grandchildren Jessa (7) and Jed (4).