Page 92 - The History of Veterans at Highland Springs

JAY R. ROLAND, PhD. HIGHLAND SPRINGS RESIDENT, USAF
Born in the front bedroom of my grandparents’ house in Wills Point Texas on February 14, 1937. There was a doctor present. Also, my sweet mother and father.
Married Bettye J. Olive in San Angelo, Texas on December 21, 1958.
Side note that December 21st is the winter solstice and known as the shortest day and longest night of the year. What do you expect from an Aggie?
Upon graduation from Texas A&M on 22 May 1959 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the USAF and entered pilot train- ing at Bartow AB Florida. Became famous for being the only one in Flight Training Class 61A to have to eject from a crash-destined aircraft (inverted spin with an instructor).
During twenty years in the Air Force, served as a pilot and aircraft commander at McClellan AFB, technical intelligence officer at the Foreign Technology Division, nuclear and laser weapons phenomenology division chief at the AF Weapons Laboratory, strategic planning officer for atmospheric simulation and aerodynamic testing at Arnold Development Center, and System Program Office Manager for the Air Force Laser Communications Program, Space and Missile System Organization. System Program Office responsibilities included development of program requirements and advocacy, development of program budgets for congressional approval, and management of systems engineering along with hardware development and prototype testing of the first Air Force airborne laser communication system. Retired in July 1979 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Due to the good graces of the AF, was offered additional education that prepared me for my AF assignments and equipped me for a second career to develop and build electric power plants worldwide, including what was once the world’s largest solar power plant.
Additional education, thank you.
M.S., Astronautics, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson Air Force, Ohio Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, University of Oklahoma Graduate, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
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