In any event, during the next show season (1990) I was selected to become the Superintendent of Quality Assurance and (to my surprise) was also selected to become part of the US Air Force Thunderbird and US Navy Blue Angel, Maintenance Liaison Exchange Program as Msgt Cooper (E-7) and Msgt Saunders (E-7) had before me. My rank was Senior Master Sergeant (E-8) at the time, the whole idea of the program, besides being a major reward for outstanding work supporting the Thunderbird team was to learn all we could about how each of our demonstration teams operated daily.

We watched and participated in all aircraft maintenance actions (the person from your team that took my place accomplished the same taskings I did while with you folks), recovery, launch operations, supply techniques and disciplines utilized daily, maintenance man-hours, management team meetings and maintenance scheduling decisions utilized in daily operations...the works. It was as if I (and others that participated in these programs) was assigned to your team as a maintenance technician and manager The Thunderbird team members I followed performed these same tasking and more, we all shared the same experiences (basically).

Of course, we all (Blue Angel members and Thunderbird exchange members) traveled to different locations based on the schedule our selective teams had for the year we participated in these programs. All the members in this program flew in each others fighter aircraft too, that too was amazing and wonderfully exciting. The Blue Angel team members got to fly in F-16 aircraft, and the Thunderbird members got to fly in the F-18 and C-130 aircraft operated by your team...it was amazing to say the least.

The six of us actually made US Navy and US Air Force history...it has never been done before or since I am told, how lucky can six guys (3 Navy Enlisted and 3 Air Force Enlisted)?

I visited three sites (locations) during my tour but being based at your home base (Pensacola NAS) was amazing. The respect and curiosities I received (and my fellow Thunderbird members received during the program) was wonderful, amazing! Everywhere I went while with the Blue Angels, whether in or out of uniform, at air shows or off base, I was given super curiosities and respect, I was treated like I was one of you. What a wonderful branch of service the US Navy (was) and is. It was the one of the highlight of my Air Force career.