Photo By Master Sgt. Kelly Goonan | William C. Pope, Visual Information Manager of the 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs...... read more read more
William C. Pope (retired Master Sgt.) has been a public affairs specialist at the 439th Airlift Wing, Westover ARB office since 1995, after serving the office for over 10 years as a traditional Reservist; he re-joined the office in 2011 as a civilian.
Since 1996 he has worked on the Westover Patriot in numerous roles including editor, photo editor, layout, photographer, graphic artist and cartoonist. He has been the "official cartoonist of the Air Force Reserve" since 1991 with over 1,000 cartoons created over the last 24 years.
Pope joined the Air Force in 1981 after graduating with an Associate Degree in Advertising/Commercial Art and went to Chanute AFB, Ill. and Tinker AFB, Okla. for his Aircraft Electrical training. In 1982, Pope's first duty station was at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan where he worked on the E-3 Sentry, Airborne Control and Warning airframe. Pope did temporary duties all around the Pacific and took part in the operations to find the flight recorder of Korean Airliner 007 after Soviet Union fighters shot down the commercial Boeing 747 north of Japan.
In 1985, he was reassigned to Griffiss AFB, N.Y. where he worked on B-52s and KC-135s. In 1986, following discharge from active duty, he joined the Air Force Reserve in the 933rd Civil Engineer Squadron, Griffiss AFB, NY, where his career fields included Carpentry and Production Control Technician. This same year he became a graphic artist and typesetter in commercial printing where he honed his skills in the visual print world. At the same time he started drawing Air Force related cartoons that would eventually become "Pope's Puns."
Over the years, his legacy of work has appeared in many military publications including - Airman, Air Force magazine, Mobility Forum, Leatherneck, and many others around the world. Including a line of greeting cards.
EDUCATION:
1979-1981 – Associate in Applied Sciences in Advertising, Production and Design, Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, NY
1982 – Aircraft Electrical Systems Technician course, Chanute Air Force Base, Ill.
1982 – E-3 Sentry Airframe course, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
1985 – KC-135 and B-52G/H Airframe course, Griffiss Air Force Base, NY
1986 – Structures Specialty course, Griffiss Air Force Base, NY
1990 – Production Control Technicians course, Griffiss Air Force Base, NY
1995 – Basic Public Affair’s Journalism course, Fort Benjamin-Harrison, Ind.
1998 – Digital Multi-Media course, Fort Meade, Md.
2000 – AMC NCO Academy, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
ASSIGNMENTS:
October 1982-March 1985 – aircraft electrical technician, 961st Airborne Warning and Control Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan
March 1985-May 1986 – aircraft electrical technician, 416th Field Maintenance Squadron, 416th Bomb Wing, Griffiss AFB, NY
October 1986-April 1995 – structures technician and production control technician, 933rd/926th Civil Engineer Squadron, Griffiss AFB, NY
May 1995-present – Public Affairs specialist, 439th Airlift Wing, Westover ARB, Mass.
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
AF Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
AF Achievement Medal the two oak leaf clusters
AF Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
AF Good Conduct Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with ‘M’ device and silver hourglass
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
AF Overseas Ribbon Long
AF Longevity Service Award with three oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve medal with two oak leaf clusters
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
AF Training Ribbon
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2016 13:51 |
| Story ID: | 214040 |
| Location: | CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 152 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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