Brock Tourville Strom

COLONEL BROCK TOURVILLE STROM
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959

Brock W. Strom, a native of Ironwood, Michigan, etched his name into Air Force Academy history as a pivotal figure in the Class of 1959. While he began his collegiate journey at Indiana University, it was at the Academy that Strom became synonymous with football success and a trailblazer for future Falcons.

In 1958, the formidable 6-foot, 217-pound tackle achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the Academy's first consensus All-America football player. His impact on the undefeated 1958 Falcons, whose season was only "tainted" by a 13-13 tie with Rose Bowl-bound Iowa, was vividly captured by the Associated Press, which described him as "the bulwark of the team that almost literally came from outer space to go through the season undefeated and land in the Cotton Bowl opposite Texas Christian on New Year's Day."

As captain of this storied team, Strom was renowned for his exceptional leadership and "hard-nose football." He demonstrated authority in his blocking and tackling, earning the deep respect of Falcon coach Ben Martin, who lauded him as a "captain in every sense of the word." Strom often recounted the Iowa game as one of his most memorable; despite being projected to lose 50-0, the Falcons battled back to a 13-13 tie in the final quarter. His stellar performance on the field was further recognized with his selection as an Academic All-America in 1958.

Strom's commitment to service extended far beyond the football field. He distinguished himself in Southeast Asia, flying 90 missions as a navigator in Vietnam.

After his impactful service in Vietnam, Strom continued to shape the future of the Air Force. He served as the Deputy of Space Defense Systems in Los Angeles, a critical role where he was directly responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force for the entirety of the U.S. Space Defense Program. His academic pursuits further enhanced his contributions, as he earned an M.S. from MIT and a Ph.D. from Arizona State University.

Upon retiring from the Air Force as a Colonel, Strom transitioned to a distinguished career in the private sector. He joined Burlington Northern Railroad, where he served as the director of the Advanced Railroad Electronics System (ARES), an innovative initiative that utilized GPS for positive train control. By April 1988, his leadership qualities led to his promotion to Vice President, Information Systems Services, at Burlington Northern Railroad.

Later in his life, Brock Strom returned to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he became a respected professor. He resided there until his retirement, leaving a lasting legacy of academic, athletic, and military excellence for generations of cadets.

SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS
1959 to 1961 Post-graduate studies MIT-MS Aero/Astro
1961 to 1964 AstroEngr AFMDC Holloman Air Force Base
1965 to 1968 Navigator 6593TestSq Hickham Air Force Base HI
1968 Navigator 361TEWSq NhaTrang South Vietnam
1968 to 1969 War Plans Headquarters 7AF Tan Son Nhut Air Base South Vietnam
1969 to 1971 Post-graduate studies Arizona State University-PhD AstroEngr
1971 to 1974 Dir Aerospace Mech Sci FJSRL USAFA
1974 to 1979 Dir Engr / Dir Nav Eqp & Avionics SAMSO
NAVSTAR Global Positioning System
1979 to 1980 National Defense Fellow National Defense University
1980 to 1986 Program Manager Consolidated Los Angeles Air Force Station
Special Operations Cen
1986 to 1988 Dir ARES Burlington Northern Railroad
1988 to 1993 Senior Vice Pres InfoSys Burlington Northern Railroad
1993 to 1996 Visiting Professor Math USAFA
1996 to 2004 Consultant Strom Consulting Co Plano TX
2004 to 2009 Pres & CEO VSG Asset Management CO

MEDALS

Legion of Merit 2
Distinguished Flying Cross 1
Bronze Star Medal 1
Meritorious Service Medal 1
Air Medal 3
Air Force Commendation Medal 1