Gary B. Blackburn

Gary B. Blackburn is a native Iowan and served with the U.S. Air Force Security Service from April 1961 to November 1964. He studied Chinese at the Institute of Far Eastern Languages, Yale University and Technical Chinese at Goodfellow A.F.B., San Angelo, Texas. Overseas assignments included the Joint Sobe Processing Center in Okinawa, working for NSA, followed by a year with the 6987th Security Group, Shu Lin Kou Air Station in Taiwan. After completion of his service in the Far East, Gary returned to Goodfellow A.F.B. as a member of the elite 6948th Security Squadron (Mobile) (USAFSS) to fulfill the last year of his military commitment.

Moving to North Carolina in 1965, Gary is a graduate of John Wesley University in High Point, North Carolina and is retired from Eastern Air Lines and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He served as Commandant of Cadets at Oak Ridge Military Academy for three years and Director of Public & Alumni Relations for seven years. He is a published writer and photographer.