From Deadman's Trail

Charles Holland - 2016 USAFA AoG Distinguished Graduate

Charlie hails from Elkins, West Virginia and after high school, spent a year at West Virginia University before joining us. After basic summer, Charlie was first in 14th Squadron and then in "Blackjack" 21st for our last two years. While sticking with his major in aeronautical engineering was always a challenge, his performance on the varsity basketball team, wearing "33", was always rewarding.

Following graduation, his 35
½-year career as an Air Force Officer is particularity distinguished. As is for all present and past Air Force officers that achieved flag rank, their biographies are online and Charlie's is here. You'll note that Charlie's first aircraft was the C-130 and when he retired in 2003, he was very much still connected with that airframe. I guess it is now a contest to see which aircraft is in the active inventory the longest the B-52 or the C-130.

Besides participation in the war in Southeast Asia, Charlie was involved in conflicts in Panama, Kuwait, Bosnia, Haiti, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. A break in the participation and support of the many various C-130 missions came when he served at Space Division at Los Angeles AFS after receiving his MS from AFIT in astronautical engineering in 1978.

While many of us had most of our short term assignments at the beginning of our career, Charlie had his near the end - with seven PCS moves between 1991 and 2000, which included Kirtland AFB, Hurlburt Field FL, Ft Bragg NC, Camp H.M. Smith HI,
Hurlburt Field FL again, Ramstein AB Germany and MacDill AFB FL for his last assignment.

After three years as Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command and retiring as a 4-star General in 2003, Charlie had no trouble finding work. He now serves as a Director or Advisor on multiple corporate boards and acts as an independent consultant for several companies within the defense industry. In 2011 Charlie was the winner of the National Defense Industry Association's R. Lynn Rylander Award for his lifetime achievements in improving special operations at all levels. Click here for our Scribe's write-up regarding the award in the June 2012 Class News.

In addition to industry boards, he is a Senior Advisor to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and a volunteer Director, now Director Emeritus, on the Special Operations Warrior Foundation Board which provides college education funds to the sons and daughters of fallen special operations personnel.

Charlie met his bride Nancy, a United Airlines stewardess, while serving in Southeast Asia. They were married at At Ubon AB Thailand in 1973 and they have been able to be together during all his PCS assignments. Charlie and Nancy are the proud parents of
two sons Lt Col Chuck Holland - USAFA ’99 and Justin Holland, a millennial MIT grad. By the way, son Chuck was in "Blackjack" 21 as was their daughter-in-law Sharon - USAFA '98. Charlie and Nancy expect to move into their new home in Colorado Springs in 2018.

The Class of 1968 is proud to announce that Charlie was selected as one of the Distinguished Graduates for 2016. He received his award along with Gen. (Ret.) George Lee Butler '61, Mr. R. David Yost '69 and Col. (Ret.) Gary E. Payton '71 during at the Founders Day Banquet on April 7, 2017. Click here for the AoG video.

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Charlie and Nancy - Congratulations!

June 2017


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