John Winfield Ulmer

LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN WINFIELD ULMER, JR.
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959

John Winfield Ulmer, Jr. was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Driven by a desire to serve in the newly formed independent air arm, John secured a prestigious Senatorial appointment to represent Texas in the charter class of the United States Air Force Academy.

Entering with the historic Class of 1959 in the summer of 1955, John was assigned to Cadet Squadron 5. During his four years at the Academy, he proved to be an active cadet both athletically and in military leadership: he competed on the USAFA soccer team and served as Captain of the Pistol Team. On June 3, 1959, he graduated with his class, earning a Bachelor of Science degree and commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

OPERATIONAL & COMBAT SERVICE

Following graduation, Lt Col Ulmer entered primary and basic pilot training from 1959 to 1960 at Moore Air Base and Laredo Air Force Base, Texas. Upon earning his wings, he served as an Instructor Navigator at Mather Air Force Base, California, from 1960 to 1963.

From 1963 to 1968, he served as a navigator with the 486th Bombardment Squadron, with assignments across Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas; March Air Force Base, California; and deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. During this period, he also flew B-52 operations with the 337th Bombardment Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

In 1968, he was selected for advanced technical education at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, completing his studies in 1970.

From 1970 to 1971, Lt Col Ulmer deployed to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War as a Sensor Operator with the 18th Special Operations Squadron. Operating advanced AC-119K Stinger gunships out of Phan Rang Air Base and Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam, as well as Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand, he flew high-risk combat support and interdiction missions. His distinguished combat service earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross and 9 Air Medals.

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP & ENGINEERING

Transitioning into engineering test and missile development roles, Lt Col Ulmer served from 1971 to 1975 as a Staff Development Engineer with the 4900th Test Group at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

From 1975 to 1980, he served as a Development Engineer in the Minuteman Test Division under the Space and Missile Systems Organization (SAMSO) at Norton Air Force Base, California. He retired from active duty in 1980 in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (O-5) after 25 years of honorable military service.

Civilian Career & Academia
Following his military retirement, Lt Col Ulmer returned to his home city of Houston, Texas, embarking on a 23-year civilian technical career:

• 1980–1991: Software Engineer at TRW in Houston, TX.

• 1991–1993: Senior Computer Specialist at Lockheed Engineering and Science Co. in Houston, TX.

• 1994–2003: Adjunct Professor at Kingwood College in Kingwood, TX, passing along his deep expertise in software engineering and computer science to the next generation.

EDUCATION

United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) B.S., CS-05, Senatorial Appointment (TX), Soccer, Captain Pistol Team 1955–1959
Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) AFIT Student (RS), Wright-Patterson AFB 1968–1970

MEDALS & AWARDS

Distinguished Flying Cross 1
Meritorious Service Medal 1
Air Medal 9
Joint Service Commendation Medal 1

SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS

1959–1960 Pilot Training Moore AB / Laredo AFB, TX
1960–1963 Instructor Navigator Mather AFB, CA
1963–1968 Navigator / B-52 Operations 486th Bomb Sq (Bergstrom AFB, TX / March AFB, CA / Andersen AB, Guam) & 337th Bomb Sq (Dyess AFB, TX)
1968–1970 AFIT Student Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
1970–1971 Sensor Operator (Combat) 18th Special Operations Squadron (Phan Rang AB, Da Nang AB, South Vietnam / Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand)
1971–1975 Staff Development Engineer 4900th Test Group, Kirtland AFB, NM
1975–1980 Development Engineer Minuteman Test Division, SAMSO, Norton AFB, CA
1980–1991 Software Engineer TRW, Houston, TX
1991–1993 Senior Computer Specialist Lockheed Engineering and Science Co., Houston, TX
1994–2003 Adjunct Professor Kingwood College, Kingwood, TX