Captain Jerry Lynn Huffstickler: Age 79

Captain Jerry Lynn Huffstickler served 25+ years in the U.S. Air Force. His Air Force Service Code included: (1) 4024: Aircraft Maintenance Officer for 10 years and four months, (2) 43370: Maintenance Scheduling Technician for 10 years and nine months and (3) 42153: Aerospace Ground Equipment for four years and six months. He received the following medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons: Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Distinguished-Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four Campaign Stars, Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with five Oak Leaf Clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with Star, Air Force Training Ribbon, NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Captain Huffstickler was born November 11, 1945 in Crenshaw, MS, to his parents, Joel and Janie Huffstickler. His father served in WWII in the U.S. Army in North Africa and Italy. After the war, his parents bought a 70 acre cotton farm, and it provided for them for the rest of their lives. Jerry participated in football and baseball during high school, and he graduated from Sledge High School in May 1963.

Captain Huffstickler’s military service in the U.S. Air Force began in June 1963 when he volunteered and was inducted at Memphis, TN. He completed six weeks of Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base, TX followed by six months of technical training to repair and to maintain support equipment for aircraft at Chanute AFB, IL.

His military career encompassed service at 10 locations with various assignments. His Air Force Service Code was in Aircraft Ground Equipment and Maintenance for his first four years in service. His first assignment was at McDill AFB, FL, for four years, and that included a notable TDY to Naha Air Base at Okinawa, Japan, for six months in 1964. This was the second and longest operational deployment of the Air Force’s newest fighter, the F4C which was an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all weather long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber. This was followed by returning to McDill AFB, FL, until 1968. While there, he received a B.S. Degree in Business Management Economics at the University of Tampa. Next, he deployed to serve one year at Da Nang AB in north central Vietnam where he was subjected to confirmed 122 rocket attacks and a couple of mortar rounds. Then he served at Columbus AFB, MS, and while there, he prepared to finish his enlisted service. Next, he served at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, and while there, he received his Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Pepperdine University in 1978. He then became an officer after completing Officer Training School (OTS) and became a 2nd Lieutenant at Lackland AFB, TX. He returned to working in aircraft maintenance by serving at Eglin AFB, FL. While at Eglin, he additionally served as a Detachment and Squadron Commander. Then he served for one year at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, from 1982-1983. He then served for three years at Langley AFB, VA, at Tactical Air Command Headquarters. At that time automation in logistics consisted of using the punch-card machines supporting aircraft maintenance. He was preparing them to go from the punch card system to the Air Force logistics MMICS system, a Maintenance Management Information and Control System. He served as the leader of the small team making sure that the MIMICS system adequately supported the entire maintenance operations. His last assignment was at Maxwell Gunter-Annex AFB, AL, which has become the center of the Air Force automation and where he led 174 people in forever changing the way logistics functioned in the U.S. Air Force moving from a maintenance recording system to a pure on-line production system. Captain Huffstickler served as the Chief of Software Development for CAMS (Core Automated Maintenance System) and when he retired there January 31, 1979, CAMS was the largest Air Force Standard System. His duties also led the implementation of CAMS for our allies in Turkey and NATO making CAMS both a national system but an international system as well.

After his military retirement, Captain Huffstickler worked 20 years with Northrop Grumman, a company of advanced technology and innovation. He began as an analyst and concluded as a Vice President of Business Development level answering to the president. He is a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the VFW. He serves as an elder at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Montgomery, AL. Captain Huffstickler and his wife, Sandra, were married 33 years before she passed away, and they had six children and nine grandchildren.

Captain Huffstickler’s conclusions about what his service in the U. S. Air Force means to him are: “This first thing is pride and mission accomplishment; of being able to start with an idea and turn it into something real. I honestly believe that I led a unique career path, and no one since has been able to follow it. I loved the military, and I loved the Air Force. When the stars and stripes go by, pride still wells up in my heart. When the Star Spangled Banner is played, I flush with excitement. It doesn’t go away, and I don’t want it to.” He would like people to remember him as laser focused, production oriented and the best leader that they have ever had.