The document is a letter from two Lt. Colonels in the 302nd Airlift Wing thanking Alan, an air traffic controller at Peterson Air Force Base, for his passion and professionalism in ensuring safe air traffic control operations over many years of supporting the 302nd's flight training missions. It highlights Alan's personal contributions to worldwide C-130 operations and preparing aircrews for international operations. It also thanks Alan for his initiatives to promote aviation safety and for fostering relationships between various aviation entities that provided an extraordinarily safe place for the 302nd to conduct its flight training.

1. DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
AIR FORCE RESERVE COMMAND
October 24, 2014
To All Who Shall Receive This,
Greetings. It is with nothing but humility and sadness that this letter is delivered in our absence. Perhaps
now that Alan has completed all the required prerequisites (by that, we mean having not been fired from a
career in air traffic control), he could have finally gotten to the business of altering the space-time continuum,
and we could be there at least to enjoy the cake. But alas, his idleness has again won the day.
Typically, a military flying organization has the luxury of its own airfield, infrastructure and support. The 302d
C-130 Airlift Wing was not afforded such an opportunity when it was stationed at Peterson Air Force Base.
Instead, Peterson is at the mercy of the City of Colorado Springs Airport for all airport and air traffic services.
Throughout its existence at Peterson, the 302d has enjoyed a tremendous relationship with COS air traffic
control, thanks in no small part to Alan's passion for aviation, professionalism and care for safe operations.
Alan's personal contributions to the success of C-130 operations worldwide will never be fully appreciated,
but.one Gorski transmission garners special applause:
"Sumii 71, Turn Left 0-9-0 for Controller Enjoyment" - transmissions like that helped prepare 302d aircrews
for the pressure-cooker that is German controllers and their almost guaranteed penalty vectors for no other
reason than a disdain for Americans driving poorly on their Autobahn. Thanks Alan.
In all seriousness, Alan has brought a passion for controlling and for working with the airspace users in a
refreshingly proactive, cooperative approach. He has been the outstretched hand to all who have had the
pleasure of working in the COS airspace, and especially to us, when questions and conflicts have arisen.
Through initiatives such as the Colorado Springs Airport Safety meetings, and his personal relationships that
he has fostered with all of the various aviation entities along the Front Range, Alan has provided an
extraordinarily safe place for us to conduct our flight training.
While it might appear as superficially normal, the 302d Airlift Wing training at the Colorado Springs Airport
has prepared our crews to perform some noteworthy feats. We kept thousands of land convoys off the IEO-
laden roads of Iraq and Afghanistan, airdropped millions of pounds of supplies to military units and refugees
in austere locations around the world, and provided countless crucial fire retardant drops on wildfires that
have helped to save homes and livelihoods around the United States and several countries. We have Alan
to thank for bringing his passion and professionalism to ensuring that our training for such missions is
unhindered by ATC and other users in the airspace.
Personally, Alan, you've been a tremendous influence on both of us, inspiring us to always keep our mission
the top priority, and to fight the battles for safety wisely and effectively. Since the beginning of our working
relationship, you have shown us the utmost in respect not only for our profession, but as people. We
absolutely value your friendship, and hope it will continue long after this retirement.
So we send this letter with a very small token of our appreciation, on behalf of all the men and women in the
302d Airlift Wing. We hope that this picture will always bring good memories of all your years working with
us.
Happy Birthday, and Squawk 1200,
G2~s
Lt Col Richard Pantusa,
731st Airlift Squadron Director of Operations
Lt Col Brian.Thomas,
302d Operations Group Standardization & Evaluation