John Morris Howell

LT. COLONEL JOHN MORRIS HOWELL, JR.
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959

Lt. Colonel John "Jack" Morris Howell, Jr. built a highly distinguished 24-year military career defined by a unique blend of operational aviation, academic leadership, and high-level technical program management. As a proud member of the United States Air Force Academy’s historic vanguard—the Class of 1959—Jack channeled his passion for science and technology into crucial roles spanning from the front lines of the Cold War to the cutting edge of national aerospace defense.

EARLY CAREER & THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

Following graduation and commissioning in 1959, Jack completed advanced navigator training and was assigned to the 4061st Air Refueling Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. By 1961, he transitioned to the 303rd Air Refueling Squadron, operating KC-97 Stratofreighters out of Kindley Air Force Base in Bermuda and Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.

It was during this period that Jack found himself thrust directly into one of the most volatile moments of the Cold War. In October 1962, while home on leave, the Cuban Missile Crisis erupted. Jack was instantly ordered back to active duty in Bermuda, where his crew flew intense, grueling search patterns over the vast Atlantic Ocean for several straight days. Tracking surface vessels steaming toward the Americas, Jack and his fellow airmen used their personal 35mm cameras to photograph passing ships from the air, collecting vital tactical reconnaissance to verify if Soviet missiles were hidden on board.

ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP AND OPERATIONAL EVOLUTION

Always seeking to broaden his intellectual and professional horizons, Jack completed post-graduate legal studies through LaSalle Extension University in 1965. He returned to operational training elements the following year as an Instructor Navigator with the 3536th Navigator Training Squadron at Mather Air Force Base, California, passing on his precise navigation expertise to a new generation of airmen.

At the height of the Vietnam War in 1969, Jack deployed to Southeast Asia. He served on the front lines as a navigator with the 4th Special Operations Squadron out of Phan Rang Air Base, flying combat missions in South Vietnam. He subsequently served as a Protocol Officer with Headquarters, 7th Air Force (7AF) at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, overseeing critical operational coordination in a high-pressure combat theater.

FROM THE USAFA CLASSROOM TO NASA AND THE PENTAGON

In 1970, Jack returned home to his alma mater. Melding his technical background with his passion for education, he served as an Instructor of Astronomy at the Air Force Academy until 1973.

His proven aptitude for scientific disciplines soon caught the eye of top-tier military defense planners, pivoting his career toward major tech-oriented and aerospace-related assignments:

• Air Force Systems Command (1973–1976): Served as a Program Monitor for Exploratory & Advanced Engineering Development within the Directorate of Science & Technology at AFSC Headquarters, Andrews AFB.
• Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (1976–1978): Appointed Assistant Executive Secretary to the board at Headquarters USAF, advising top Pentagon leadership on emerging scientific threats and advancements.
• NASA Headquarters (1977, 1979–1982): Served two prestigious assignments as Special Assistant to the Director of the Department of Defense Affairs Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., bridging the gap between national military defense and civilian space exploration.
• KC-10 Program Element Monitor (1978–1979): Managed key procurement and developmental milestones for the KC-10 Extender Convertible Freighter, an aircraft that revolutionized the Air Force’s global strategic refueling capabilities.

CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP AND LEGACY

Retiring from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1983 after 24 years of dedicated service, Jack seamlessly translated his engineering and organizational skills into the civilian sector. He moved to New York City to join the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), serving first as Director of Federal Government Relations, then escalating to Managing Director, and finally Associate Executive Director/Senior Project Director over an impactful 15-year tenure.

In 1997, he stepped into the role of Executive Director of the IEEE Communications Society in New York, continuing to guide the global advancement of technology and engineering communication systems into the new millennium.

Jack remains deeply committed lifelong to the principles instilled in him at the Academy. A fierce defender of the USAFA Cadet Honor Code, he famously champions its profound impact, writing publicly that the code stood as the most vital element of his Academy experience and served as the moral compass that guided his entire personal and professional life.

EDUCATION

• B.S., Engineering Sciences – United States Air Force Academy (1959)
• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) – LaSalle Extension University (1965)

MEDALS AND AWARDS

• Legion of Merit (1)
• Bronze Star Medal (1)
• Meritorious Service Medal (1)
• Air Medal (1)
• Air Force Commendation Medal (2)

SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS

Years Duty / Role Location
1960–1961 Navigator, 4061st Air Refueling Squadron Malmstrom AFB, MT
1961–1965 Navigator (KC-97), 303rd Air Refueling Squadron Kindley AFB, Bermuda / Dover AFB, DE
1966–1967 Instructor Navigator, 3536th Navigator Training Sq. Mather AFB, CA
1969 Navigator, 4th Special Operations Squadron Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam
1969–1970 Protocol Officer, Headquarters 7th Air Force Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam
1970–1973 Instructor of Astronomy U.S. Air Force Academy, CO
1973–1976 Pgm Monitor, Exploratory & Adv Eng Dev (Dir Sci & Tech) HQ AFSC, Andrews AFB, MD
1976–1978 Assistant Executive Secretary, Scientific Advisory Board HQ USAF, Washington, D.C.
1977 Special Assistant to Director, DOD Affairs Division NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
1978–1979 Program Element Monitor, KC-10 Convertible Freighter HQ USAF, Washington, D.C.
1979–1982 Special Assistant to Director, DOD Affairs Division NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.