MIKE JACKSON

Mike Jackson grew up in Tipp City, Ohio, and graduated from Ohio University with a B.S.Ed. in 1968. He entered the United States Air Force in 1968, earned his pilot wings, and flew fighter, observation, bomber, and training aircraft in addition to serving in a number of command positions, retiring as a lieutenant colonel and command pilot. He flew 210 combat missions in Vietnam, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, nine Air Medals, and numerous other decorations. Following his 23-year Air Force career, Mike served thirteen years as the Executive Director of the National Aviation Hall of Fame at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. He was named Executive Director Emeritus upon his departure to become the National Chairman of Operation Welcome Home in 2005. An active alumna of Ohio University, Mike served on their Aviation Advisory Board for the School of Aviation at Ohio University for eight years, served as the chairman of the Promise Lives Campaign for the Patton College of Education, and served on the Board of Directors of the Ohio University Alumni Association. In 2004, Mike published the critically acclaimed Vietnam memoir Naked In Da Nang. He has since authored two additional books: The Wright Brothers: First in Flight and Neil Armstrong: One Giant Leap for Mankind and has edited four additional aviation-themed books. He appeared as narrator on three seasons of the PBS/Discovery/Military Channel series “Legends of Airpower” and on the Smithsonian Channel’s “Unbelievable Flying Objects.” Mike earned an MBA from Webster University in 1981 and was selected as their Alumnus of the Year in 2005. He was awarded the Medal of Merit from Ohio University in 2007 and was honored with an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service degree in 2012.