Edwin Jones Montgomery

COLONEL EDWIN JONES "MONTY" MONTGOMERY, JR.
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959
Cadet Squadron 12 | CS-15 AOC
Years of Service: 31

Originally from Newtown, Pennsylvania, Edwin Jones "Monty" Montgomery, Jr. came to the newly established United States Air Force Academy via a congressional appointment. Assigned to Cadet Squadron 12, Ed quickly established himself as a scholar and a "leader of men." During his cadet years, he achieved an outstanding academic record, led the fourth-class summer training flight, and represented the Academy on the baseball diamond. Demonstrating the intellectual caliber of the inaugural "Forever First" Class of 1959, he was selected as one of the class's prestigious Olmsted Scholars.

Graduating on June 3, 1959, Ed was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force and began pilot training at Malden Air Base and Greenville Air Force Base. After serving as an instructor pilot with the 3617th Pilot Training Squadron at Craig Air Force Base, he fulfilled his Olmsted Scholarship, studying international affairs at Aarhus University in Denmark from 1962 to 1964.

Upon returning from Denmark and completing F-4C tactical fighter training at Luke Air Force Base, Ed deployed to Southeast Asia. Flying the F-4 Phantom II with the 389th Tactical Fighter Squadron out of Holloman AFB, Phan Rang Air Base, and Da Nang Air Base, he flew combat missions during the Vietnam War. He was later assigned back to the Air Force Academy from 1968 to 1971 as Air Officer Commanding (AOC) for Cadet Squadron 15, directly shaping the next generation of Air Force officers.

Following graduation from the Naval Command and Staff College in 1972, he returned to combat operations in Southeast Asia as a Flight Commander and Instructor Pilot with the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron at Udorn Air Base, Thailand.

Ed’s subsequent career featured key staff and command positions, including Joint Actions Officer at HQ USAF Directorate of Plans, Chief of Training for the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing at Holloman AFB, and Director of Operations for the 4440th Tactical Fighter Training Group at Nellis AFB. Following attendance at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, UK, he served in Izmir, Turkey, as Assistant Chief of Staff for Exercises & Evaluation at HQ 6th Allied Tactical Air Force, Vice Commander of the 343rd Composite Wing at Eielson AFB, and Chief of the Regional Plans Branch for OJCS/J5. From 1986 to 1990, Col. Montgomery served as Commander and Editor-in-Chief of Pacific Stars & Stripes in Tokyo, Japan.

Following his retirement from active duty after 31 years of military service, Ed transitioned to commercial aviation, serving as Assistant to the International Operations Manager, Flight Standards Manager, and Pilot for United Airlines from 1990 to 2001.

In December 1977, Ed married his beloved wife, Lucia Kingsley Montgomery. Together, they shared 47 years of marriage and a vibrant life across his military postings—including Las Vegas, London, Izmir, Fairbanks, Washington, D.C., and Tokyo—before retiring to Colorado Springs in 1991. Lucia, a former TV weather presenter, ballet instructor, and active military spouse who sang with the Skylarks officers' wives group, passed away peacefully in August 2025 and was interred at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery.

Ed is a father and stepfather to four children (Donya, Edwin III, Stuart Scott, and Lauren) and a devoted grandfather and great-grandfather. A constant presence at USAFA events and Association of Graduates (AOG) gatherings, he has spent decades pouring into younger officers and cadets. True to his character, Ed remains deeply committed to his classmates, the Academy community, and the enduring legacy of the Class of 1959.

EDUCATION & SERVICE SCHOOLS

• B.S., Engineering Sciences – U.S. Air Force Academy (1959)
• Olmsted Scholar – Aarhus University, Denmark (1962–1964)
• Squadron Officer School (SOS) (1964)
• Naval Command and Staff College – Naval War College, Newport, RI (1971–1972)
• Senior Service School – Royal College of Defense Studies, London, UK (1980)

MEDALS & MAJOR DECORATIONS

• Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
• Legion of Merit (2)
• Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
• Meritorious Service Medal (2)
• Air Medal (19)
• Air Force Commendation Medal (1)

SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS


1959–1960 Pilot Training Malden Air Base / Greenville Air Force Base
1960–1962 Instructor Pilot 3617th Pilot Training Squadron, Craig AFB
1962–1964 Olmsted Scholar Aarhus University, Denmark
1964–1965 Pilot 4514th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Luke AFB
1965–1967 F-4C Fighter Pilot 389th TFS (Holloman AFB, Phan Rang AB & Da Nang AB, South Vietnam)
1967–1968 Instructor Pilot 434th Tactical Fighter Squadron, George AFB
1968–1971 Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Cadet Squadron 15, U.S. Air Force Academy
1971–1972 Intermediate Service School Navy Command and Staff College, Newport, RI
1972–1973 Flight Commander / Instructor Pilot 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn AB, Thailand
1973–1976 Joint Actions Officer Directorate of Plans, HQ USAF, Washington, D.C.
1976–1977 Chief of Training 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB
1977–1979 Director of Operations 4440th Tactical Fighter Training Group, Nellis AFB
1980 Senior Service School Student Royal College of Defence Studies, London, UK
1981–1982 Asst Chief of Staff (Exercises & Eval) HQ 6th Allied Tactical Air Force, Izmir, Turkey
1982–1983 Vice Commander 343rd Composite Wing, Eielson AFB
1983–1986 Chief, Regional Plans Branch Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (OJCS/J5)
1986–1990 Commander / Editor-in-Chief Pacific Stars & Stripes, Tokyo, Japan
1990–2001 Asst to Intl Ops Mgr / Flight Standards Mgr / Pilot United Airlines
2002 Official Military Retirement USAF (31 Years Total Active Service)