Lt. Col. (Ret.) Chad “Bubba” Lewis
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Chad “Bubba” Lewis was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1994 and went on to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he earned a letter in baseball and studied Operations Research, graduating in 1998.
After graduation, Lewis attended Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, where he was selected to fly the F-16. His career as a fighter pilot took him to multiple locations, including Germany, New Mexico, Nevada, South Korea, and Arizona. In 2006, he graduated from the Air Force Weapons School and became the chief instructor for F-16 training. He was also selected as one of the first ten pilots to fly the Air Force’s newest fighter, the F-35.
In 2009, Lewis turned down the F-35 assignment and left active duty to join the Iowa Air National Guard, continuing to fly F-16s with the 132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines. He later finished his career flying F-16s with the District of Columbia Air National Guard at Andrews Air Force Base.
With over 3,000 flight hours in the T-37, T-38, and F-16, including 215 combat hours in support of Operation Northern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom, Lewis received multiple honors for his service. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor in combat aviation, the Air Force Combat Action Medal, and two Air Medals.
Lewis retired in 2019 after 21 years of military service and returned to Des Moines with his wife of 25 years, Kelly, and their daughter, Riley. He currently serves as First Vice President – Financial Advisor and Senior Portfolio Manager with the Portfolio Focus Group.
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Retired COLONEL JOHN “Odie” OATES, USAFA Class of 1986
Colonel John Oates retired from the U.S. Air Force on 1 July 2015 after over 29 years of commissioned service.
Colonel Oates is a 1986 graduate from the US Air Force Academy where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Sciences, and a 1996 Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Graduate with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
Colonel Oates’ initial assignment was Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base, TX, where he was selected for a follow on assignment as an instructor pilot flying the T-38. In April 1991, he moved to Dyess Air Force Base, TX, where he flew the KC-135. In May 1994, Colonel Oates relocated to the US Air Force Academy for a four year assignment working with the United States Air Force Academy Parachute Team. In May 1998, he began a two- year tour flying C-17’s at Charleston Air Force Base, SC. After a one-year detour to Fort Leavenworth, KS, for Intermediate Service School in 2001, he began a job Managing Air Mobility Command’s Special Operations Forces working for Headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, IL.
Colonel Oates served as the Director of Operations for the 98th Flying Training Squadron from October 2003 through November 2004. On November 22, 2004 he assumed command of the 98 FTS. From June 2006 to June 2009 he served as the Deputy Division Chief and subsequently Division Chief for all flying training and standardization at Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, TX. From June 2009 to July 2011 Colonel Oates was the Commander, 97th Operations Group, Altus Air Force Base, OK where he was responsible for the administrative and training support of over 2,100 KC-135 and C-17 students annually at Air Education and Training Command’s Air Mobility Training Center. Most recently Col Oates was a Senior Official Inquiries Officer assigned to the Secretary of the Air Force’s Office of the Inspector General at the Pentagon.
John is currently an Associate Director for High Frequency radios at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, where he has worked since 2015. He was on the Board of Directors from 2015-2021 for Willis Dady, a local non-profit homeless shelter, including 2 years as the Board President. John is currently serving on the board of the Freedom Foundation, a local non-profit supporting Veterans in need, and a Commissioner on the Iowa Commission of Volunteerism.