Seek Eagle analyst to retire after 51 years

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gaddie
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Ronald McCurdy, a ballistics analyst for mission planning at the 96th Test Wing's Seek Eagle office, retires from civil service Jan. 31, with 51 years of combined military and civilian service.

McCurdy joined civil service in 1983, after serving as an Air Force navigator from 1962 to 1982. He reached the rank of captain.

He started at the division on the test wing's Precision Location Strike System's test team. He ended up in his current position after several mission adjustments and various office name changes. Through technological advancements, he saw his job evolve from providing printed bombing tables to providing computer software for mission planning.

The Seek Eagle office supports certification testing and analysis for a variety of aircraft armament stores and recommends flight clearance for those assets.

"Ron's significant career accomplishments as an operations research analyst, have ensured our Air Force and foreign allies have access to the best mission planning data available for decades to come," said Mike Powell, Seek Eagle office mission planning discipline supervisor.

McCurdy always found his job interesting. He recounted one situation in 1991, where his knowledge and expertise proved vital in logistics planning during the last days of the Iraq War operation.

"After the fourth day of the Iraq War ground invasion, my phone rang at home," McCurdy said. "I was asked to come into work and clarify to some officials in charge of our ground forces, why those forces needed to stay clear of a particular area we dropped mines on. Once I explained it, our operating forces stayed clear of the area. That was a high point for me, because it was immediate and had to do with the war effort."

Powell added that McCurdy's keen eyes and attention to detail had a positive impact on virtually every aircraft and weapon system in the Air Force inventory and contributed to the success of major military operations.

The Albuquerque, N.M., native wanted to fly since age seven. He enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program in 1961, while at the University of New Mexico, and entered flight school at
Williams Air Force Base at Chandler, Ariz. in 1962.

McCurdy flew various aircraft, including the RB-66; the A-26 during a tour at Hurlburt Field, the C-123, the AC-119 gunship, and the C-130. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, eight Air Medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

"I like the advances I've seen in aircraft, in particular the equipment they use in communication of information to the warfighter. I wish we would've had global positioning systems in my day," he said. "I'm impressed by how well trained and motivated today's warfighters are."

His two tours in Vietnam stand out as high points in his 20-year military career, he said.

The period during Vietnam was interesting," McCurdy recalled. "Back in the states - the way people were split over our involvement, was even more interesting. Some supported it strongly, while others spit at us when we returned. I appreciate the men and women serving in today's Armed Forces. I think we need to make that more known to more people, although it's pretty well accepted in this area."

Soon after in 1982, he moved to Shalimar and began working at Okaloosa-Walton College. After a year, one of his students asked him if he was interested in a civil service job at Air Force Seek Eagle. It was the perfect fit for an aviation enthusiast. He jumped at the opportunity and rejoined the Air Force organization in 1983.

"Ron's accomplishments have culminated into a long and distinguished career spanning 51 years, 31 as a civil servant and 20 as a military navigator. His talents and overall understanding of what the warfighters need for mission planning will be greatly missed," said Powell.

McCurdy said he will miss "having something to get up to do" after he retires. One of his immediate goals after retirement is to get in better physical condition so he can "keep on being old."

"I don't think anyone is ever satisfied that they have done everything they set out to do in life," he said. Life is something that stays out in front of us. There are always goals to reach for. It's been a good life."