Steve is Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial Inc.(TB2), a 501(C) (3) non-profit company whose mission is to commemorate the rich history of the Scottsdale airport, honor all veterans; provide scholarships to Arizona students interested in aviation careers and support Dogs4Vets, a non-profit dedicated to enabling disabled Veterans to live a more productive life through the use of service dogs
A graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy and Coast Guard rescue pilot, he is a recipient of the Air Medal and Coast Guard Commendation Medal,
Steve spends much time giving back to the community. He is a former commissioner and chairman of the Scottsdale Airport Advisory Commission and is a past commissioner on the Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission. He served as a Major and command pilot in the Civil Air Patrol as well as a Patriot Guard Rider and member of the Ancient Order of the Pterodactyl. Steve is listed on the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Wall of Honor.
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Thunderbird Field II was built in 1942 for the sole purpose of training WWII Army Air Corp pilots. Over 5,500 pilots were trained at Thunderbird Field II between 1942 and October 16, 1944, when the school was deactivated. Many of these young aviators saw military action in Europe and the Pacific.
The Thunderbird Field II Plaza at the entrance to the Scottsdale Airport business center and restaurant includes a monument with information on Thunderbird Field II and its military history. The Plaza’s centerpiece is a Stearman PT-17, the aircraft used for training at Thunderbird Field II in the 1940s. The service plaques for all of our armed services as well as the revered POW-MIA plaque is on permanent display.
The mission of the Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial organization is to commemorate the rich history of the Scottsdale airport, honor all veterans; provide scholarships to Arizona students interested in aviation careers and support Dogs4Vets, a non-profit dedicated to enabling disabled Veterans to live a more productive life through the use of service dogs
Learn about the revered military history of the Scottsdale airport, todays operations and the Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial and its mission.
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