Leo Leslie Prescott

LIEUTENANT COLONEL LEO LESLIE PRESCOTT
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959
Cadet Squadron 4

Leo Leslie Prescott came to the United States Air Force Academy from Kinston, North Carolina, after receiving a Congressional appointment. As a member of Cadet Squadron 4, Leo distinguished himself during those early formation years of the Academy as an outstanding athlete, a dedicated leader, and a steadfast friend to his classmates in the inaugural Class of 1959.

Upon graduation and commissioning in 1959, Lt. Col. Prescott entered primary and basic pilot training at Bainbridge Air Base and Greenville Air Base. After earning his pilot wings, he embarked on a distinguished 24-year military aviation career.

His early assignments placed him at the heart of tactical airlift operations. From 1960 to 1965, he served as a pilot with the 779th Troop Carrier Squadron based at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, which included operational deployments to Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam. He continued his tactical air mobility mission from 1965 to 1967 as a pilot with the 817th Troop Carrier Squadron at Naha Air Base, Okinawa.

Transitioning to strategic air operations in 1967, Lt. Col. Prescott flew KC-135 Stratotankers with the 902nd Air Refueling Squadron at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base, Oklahoma. His tactical and operational expertise subsequently led to a staff assignment from 1970 to 1974 as a Plans Officer at Headquarters Strategic Air Command (SAC), Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

In the final phase of his Air Force career, Lt. Col. Prescott served from 1974 to 1979 as the Chief of the Training Division for the 432nd Tactical Drone Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. For his courageous service and operational achievements across more than two decades, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, 10 Air Medals, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Following his retirement from active duty at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (O-5), Leo transitioned into civilian aviation, executive management, and business leadership. He served as Chief Convair Pilot for Cochise Airline in Tucson, Arizona, before pursuing advanced academic studies at the University of Arizona, earning his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Operations Management in 1982.

His post-military corporate career spanned executive leadership positions, including President of Edcott Manufacturing Inc., Flight Test Consultant, and key leadership roles—ranging from Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Marketing to President—at Prescott Aero Inc. in Wichita, Kansas. Returning to corporate and commercial aviation, he served as a Boeing 757 Pilot for Eastern Airlines, Chief Pilot for Arizona Airways Inc. from 1993 to 2009, and pilot for Great Lakes Airlines through 2013.

EDUCATION

Degree / Program Institution
Bachelor of Science United States Air Force Academy (1959)
Master of Business Administration (MBA) University of Arizona – Operations Management (1982)

MEDALS & MILITARY DECORATIONS

• Meritorious Service Medal (1)
• Air Medal (10)
• Air Force Commendation Medal (1)

MILITARY SERVICE & DUTY ASSIGNMENTS

1959–1960 Pilot Training Bainbridge AB / Greenville AB
1960–1965 Pilot 779th Troop Carrier Sq, Pope AFB / Da Nang AB, South Vietnam
1965–1967 Pilot 817th Troop Carrier Sq, Naha AB, Okinawa
1967–1969 KC-135 Pilot 902nd Air Refueling Sq, Clinton-Sherman AFB
1970–1974 Plans Officer Headquarters SAC, Offutt AFB
1974–1979 Chief, Training Division 432nd Tactical Drone Gp, Davis-Monthan AFB

Civilian Career & Post-Military Service


1980–1981 Chief Convair Pilot Cochise Airline, Tucson, AZ
1982–1984 President Edcott Mfg Inc., Tucson, AZ
1984–1985 Flight Test Consultant Tucson, AZ
1986–1988 VP Operations / VP Marketing / President Prescott Aero Inc., Wichita, KS
1989–1990 Owner EconoLube N Tune #119, Tucson, AZ
1989–1991 B-757 Pilot Eastern Airlines, Atlanta, GA
1993–2009 Chief Pilot Arizona Airways Inc., Tucson, AZ
2009–2013 Airline Pilot Great Lakes Airlines