Chief Master Sergeant Lanny Donald McAndrew: Age: 82

Chief Master Sergeant (CMSGT) Lanny Donald McAndrew served 27.5 years in the U.S. Air Force. His Air Force Service Code (AFSC) included Personnel Technician, Personnel Superintendent. First Sergeant and Senior Enlisted Advisor. He received the following decorations, medals, badges, and campaign ribbons: Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Overseas Long Tour with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with five Oak Leaf Clusters, NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and Air Force Training Ribbon.

CMSGT McAndrew was born January 25, 1943 to his parents, William and Hilda McAndrew in Charlotte, North Carolina. His father served in the Army in Europe during WWII. He and his family lived in a rural area about 15 miles south of Charlotte while his grandparents lived nearby on a separate farm. Although they had their own home on a different property, he spent much of his youth working on his grandparents' farm.

Beyond farm work, he held numerous jobs as a young boy. He cleaned and ran errands at a local movie theater, assisted the projectionist, and worked at a service station washing cars, changing oil, and pumping gas. One of his toughest jobs was at a sawmill where he helped cut down trees, trim branches and load logs onto trucks for transport and processing into lumber. He also worked on a milk truck delivering dairy products, stocked shelves at a grocery store and delivered newspapers. Starting at age 16, he even drove a school bus.

He graduated from Holbrook High School at Lowell, N.C. in June 1961. He also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. After graduating from high school, CMSGT McAndrew enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at Gastonia, N.C. His military career began when he completed nine weeks of Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. This was followed by service in personnel positions at eight other Air Force duty stations. After Basic Training, he completed On Job Training in personnel work at Amarillo Air Force Base, TX, remaining there to serve four years. After completing four years of service in the Air Force, he briefly returned to civilian life, but he reenlisted in the Air Force. He then served with the 22th Bomb Wing at March Air Force Base, CA, for one year. Next, he served at Wheeler Air Force Base, Hawaii, on an accompanied tour for his wife and son for three years. Next, he served 18 months at Headquarters Air Force Military Personnel, AFMPC, Randolph Air Force Base, TX, where he worked as a manning Technician for helicopters and C-130 aircraft filling the requirements of units around the world. He then served in personnel with the R.O.T.C. at the University of North Carolina for 1.5 years. In 1972, he was transferred to the Allied Forces Central Europe Headquarters or AFCENT at Brunssum, Netherlands, with a joint national force of six nations. This accompanied tour was for three years. In August 1975, he was transferred to another joint service operation in Saudi Arabia with the US Military training Mission, USMTM on an unaccompanied tour for one year. Returning to the U.S.A., he then served at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., for two years followed by service at Lowry Air Force Base, CO. This was his first assignment as a First Sergeant, and he remained in that job title for the next nine years.

As a First Sergeant, he worked with personnel in a school squadron training a student population of 500-750 students in bomb and missile Tech Schools. During the next three years at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, he continued serving as a First Sergeant, dedicating much of his time to operations on the flight line and traveling throughout the Pacific theater. His responsibilities took him far beyond U.S. territory, working alongside unit personnel stationed across the region with deployments to Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, he participated in resupply missions to Antarctica ensuring critical provisions were delivered and transporting personnel to support operations there. He recalled that landing on the ice runway was quite a thrill, an experience unlike no other. "He remarked, ‘You can see endlessly, yet all you see is white.’"

Further showcasing his commitment to military readiness, he was deployed for two weeks to South Korea for “Team Spirit,” a joint military training exercise between U.S. and South Korean forces. This multinational operation strengthened cooperation and preparedness reinforcing the bond between allied forces in the region.

Continuing his duty as First Sergeant, his next assignment was at Gunter Air Base, AL, for 1.5 years. He was then selected as the Senior Enlisted Advisor at Florennes Air Base, Belgium, a Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) installation. This base housed nuclear weapons prepared for strategic operations. Established during President Reagan’s administration, the GLCM units were intended to prompt diplomatic negotiations with Russia by reinforcing NATO’s defense posture. Serving at Florennes was an immense responsibility as the mission required precision, vigilance, and unwavering dedication. He had the privilege of working alongside an exceptional group of personnel whose commitment to safeguarding and executing such a critical mission was truly inspiring.

His last assignment was at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL, with the Communications Squadron where he retired December 31, 1988.

After retiring from the military, he pursued a second career as a pilot. While serving in the Air Force, he had privately funded his civilian pilot training. After earning his commercial pilot rating, he focused on building flight hours aiming to qualify for an airline position. He began flying charters transporting people for 1.5 years. In 1990, he became employed by Continental Airlines based out of Houston Intercontinental Airport, TX, as a First Officer flying the Embraer EMB120 two-engine turboprop engine plane flying 30 passengers on commuter routes for three years. Then he worked at Flight Safety International at its training facility in Houston as an instructor. He trained many Chinese students for China Southwest Airlines with an interpreter on the Boeing 737 for 2.5 years. Next, he worked with Ryan International Airlines as Assistant Director of Flight Operations for two years in Wichita, KS. He returned to Line Flying as a First Officer and Captain on the B-737-400/500 aircraft for four years. Next, he was off to Turkey. During his time there on a foreign contract, he served as a Captain for Pegasus Airlines in Turkey, flying the Boeing 737-400 and transporting thousands of passengers seeking warm beach vacations from as far away as Tromsø, Norway.

While flying in Turkey, Delta Airlines reached out with an opportunity to work as a Non-Seniority List Instructor, NSLI for the Boeing 737, training line pilots on the aircraft for eight months. Unfortunately, a delay in Delta’s aircraft deliveries led to the furlough of all NSLI instructors. Despite this setback, he was fortunate to find a new opportunity with Atlas Air which was transitioning from older Boeing 747 models to the newer glass cockpit B747-400. With extensive experience in this cockpit arrangement, he was offered a position as a First Officer flying factory-fresh B747-400 aircraft. This was the start of an exhilarating journey flying across the globe from the U.S. to London, Hong Kong, Santiago, Amsterdam, Seoul, Tokyo, and countless other international destinations. This was living the dream aboard one of the most advanced aircraft of its era.

In 1999, while temporarily based in London, he received a call from “NewAir,” a budding airline seeking experienced pilots to captain its soon-to-arrive factory-new Airbus A320s. At the time, the company was still so new that it had yet to settle on the name JetBlue Airways or even to acquire its first aircraft. Taking a leap of faith, he left one of the greatest airplanes ever built to join the ambitious startup. Soon he embarked on a new chapter flying the Airbus A-320 for the newly branded JetBlue Airways, based in Manhattan, NY.

As part of JetBlue’s first class of pilots, he trained in Miami preparing for the airline’s official launch. He was selected to perform the FAA certification checks, a crucial step toward securing regulatory approval. The process included a simulator check ride and a two-hour oral exam conducted by FAA personnel. Both assessments were successfully completed paving the way for the airline to move forward toward operation. Upon completing training, he was offered the role of Chief Pilot. After much discussion and prayer with his wife, Laura, he accepted the position, becoming part of the launch team. Alongside the VP of Operations, he worked tirelessly to prepare essential documents, manuals and regulatory materials for submission to the FAA. Their efforts culminated in the approval of JetBlue’s Air Carrier Certificate on February 3, 2000. JetBlue quickly became a pioneer in aviation, achieving several industry firsts including being the first airline approved for electronic flight bags and the first to introduce Live TV on board. He was honored to be part of this groundbreaking startup even flying all the FAA certification flights for Live TV, helping to shape the airline’s future.

He retired from Jet Blue and all other airline companies flying his last commercial flight in 2008. He is the first enlisted military member who later became a chief pilot of a major airline. He states, “Transitioning from a military enlisted man to the Chief Pilot of a major airline was a dream that surpassed even my wildest imagination.”

CMSGT McAndrew and his wife, Laura, have been married 35 years, and he has one child, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Devoted members of Frazer Methodist Church in Montgomery, AL, they actively participate in Meals on Wheels serving their community with kindness. CMSGT McAndrew also facilitates a men’s Bible study, guiding others in faith and fellowship. Beyond their commitments, they share a passion for traveling the world often embarking on memorable cruises.

Reflecting on his military service, CMSGT McAndrew describes it as a lifelong calling: “It was something that I always wanted to do. I had a lot of respect for my dad, who served during WWII, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I loved my military time. I was surrounded by great people to work for and with.” Above all, he hopes to be remembered as a solid Christian man who led a blessed life, guided by faith, service and gratitude. He has written his autobiography, “From Dreams to Wings” The Inspiring Journey From Imagination to Aviation which is published by Amazon.