Making of Bill Creech - Project Gutenberg Consortia Center

About the AuthorLt Col James C. Slife, a senior pilot with 2,300 flight hours,primarily in the MH-53 helicopter, is director of operations,20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida. Heearned a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineeringfrom Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, in 1989. He alsoholds a master of arts degree in organizational managementfrom George Washington University. After undergraduate pilottraining (helicopter) in 1990 at Fort Rucker, Alabama, ColonelSlife remained at Fort Rucker as an instructor pilot. In late1991 he transferred to Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, where hetransitioned to the MH-53J Pave Low helicopter. In 1992 hewas assigned to Hurlburt Field, Florida, and participated inoperations in the Persian Gulf, the Balkans, and the Caribbean.Colonel Slife left Hurlburt Field as an instructor pilot and wasassigned to the Air Staff, where he served in broadeningassignments within the following offices: Air Force Director ofLegislative Liaison and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Forcefor Manpower, Installations, Reserve Affairs, and the Environment.In 1997 he went to Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England,as an MH-53J/M pilot. As a squadron assistant director ofoperations and flight examiner, Colonel Slife participated inoperations in the Balkans and Africa before completing AirCommand and Staff College in 2001 and the School ofAdvanced Airpower Studies (now the School of Advanced Airand Space Studies) in 2002—both based at Maxwell AFB,Alabama. Colonel Slife and his wife, Gwendolyn, have fourchildren: Sarah, John, Paul, and Rebecca.ix