Parachute-Related Credentials  (October 5, 2006)

• Parachutist: 1,425 jumps; United States Parachute Association member
  since 1962; USPA licenses B-2005, C-1405, D-4758; Gold Wings #989;
  Charter / Life Member, Connecticut Parachutists, Inc. (CPI, "Home of
  Champions"), a sport parachute club (founded March 1962).
• FAA Master Parachute Rigger; former FAA Designated Parachute Rigger
  Examiner (6 1/2 years); packed over 6,000 personnel parachutes
  (including 1,100+ “reserves” with over 50 “saves” (and no "losses"));
  one year full-time parachute technician, Pioneer Parachute Co., re:
  cargo, midair retrieval, and special-purpose parachute systems.
• Former local, regional, and national parachute competitor (including
  para-ski events).
• Former National Competition Judge (Style / Accuracy, Relative Work —
  1968, 1973 National Championships).
• Author (Book): "Parachuting: From Student to Skydiver"; 224 pp,
  77,000 words, illustrated; TAB/McGraw-Hill, 1990.
• Author (Magazine): “Chutes” (4,000-word historical feature),
  "Aviation Heritage" magazine, March 1992, nationally distributed.
• Editor / Publisher ( Magazine) — “Parachutes:
  Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow"; a bimonthly periodical (November 1991 /
  October 1993; 12  published issues with over 100 parachute-related
  articles ranging from filler items to articles of several thousand
  words.
• Author (Magazine): “A History of U.S. Army Parachute Troops”; "World
  War II Military Journal"; a series of comprehensive 3,500-word articles
  pertaining to development and growth of U.S. Army parachute infantry
  and its use in World War Two. Parts One, Two, Three, and Four have been
  published, with Part Five nearing completion; the series is expected to
  be at least six (perhaps seven) segments total.
• Columnist (Aviation Perodical): "Rigger's Notebook" is a monthly
  parachute information column. It covers the many varied aspects related
  to parachuting, parachutes, and parachutists. Information is intended
  for persons knowledgeable about parachutes as well as for
  nonparachuting members of the general aviation community. For the
  latter, the information is to let them know there is much more to the
  art and science of parachutes than they might think.
• Rigger's Notebook" appears in print in the Atlantic Flyer (a
  20-year-old east coast monthly aviation newspaper with a readership of
  over 84,000), and on the Internet/World Wide Web (www.aflyer.com).
  "Rigger's Notebook" is a 1,000-word-maximum column of text only and has
  been published since April 1988 (with some exceptions), with 211
  columns appearing in print as of September 2006.
• Author (Electronic Magazine): A series of 12 parachute-related
  articles titled "Parachutes — Wondrous Devices" and were produced for
  the electronic magazine "Aero.Com"; another aviation information
  publication (www.aero.com). "Parachutes — Wondrous Devices" included
  separately titled article of varied lengths (ranging from 1,266 to
  3,366 words).
• Contributor to Parachutist magazine (official publication of the
  United States Parachute Association (USPA) and  Skydiving
  ("Parachuting's Newsmagazine).) Both publications are distributed
  worldwide.)
• Award Recipient: USPA/Northeast Region Safety & Training Advisors
  1998 "Outstanding Achievement."
• Communications Director — 2000 Style and Accuracy National
  Parachuting Championships; Orange. Massachusetts; June 5-10, 2000.
• Participant (4 years) in FAA / PAMA (Professional Aviation
  Maintenance Association) annual "Safety Fest" aviation safety programs.
• Member: United States Parachute Association (USPA); Parachute
  Industry Association (PIA); New England Air Museum (NEAM), Windsor
  Locks, Connecticut.
• 2002 Newsletter Editor (CP Ink); monthly 10-page newsletter of
  Connecticut Parachutists, Inc. (CPI). (Also editor twice in earlier
  years.)
• Contributor of three individual biographical entries to Virginia
  Military Institute (VMI) WW2 encyclopedia, published in December 2004.
  (Subjects were American William C. Lee, and two British army officers,
  Roy Uhrquart, and John Frost.)
• January 2003; appointed as researcher / writer for Historical
  Committee of the Parachute Industry Association (PIA).
• August 2003; Completed first in a series of historical documents for
  PIA Historical Committee. Booklet titled “Parachute History, Lore, and
  Stories — Beginnings” @ 46 pages, 21,795 words, illustrated. “A History
  of the Parachute Industry Association” and others to follow.
• September 2003; PIA Historical Committee position upgraded to
  Cochair, retaining researcher / writer responsibility.
• Contributor to Aerial Delivery Magazine quarterly publication of the
  Aerial Delivery Sustainment Team (a federal government agency), Natick,
  Massachusetts; to date twelve historical articles published in six
  issues, others to follow.
• December 6, 2003; Awarded U.S. Army Parachute Team (USAPT) “Honorary
  Golden Knight” membership at Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, North Carolina.
•  Contributor of parachute-related articles to NEAM Newsletter, a
  quarterly publication of the New England Air Museum, Bradley
  International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Recent feature was
  “Adeline Gray, Parachutist.”  (She was a Pioneer Parachute Company
  parachute rigger who, in  1942, made the first live test jump of a
  nylon-fabruic canopy. Nylon then replaced silk as a parachute canopy
  fabric.)
• May 2005: Contributor to Atlantic Flyer aviation periodical,
  commenced writing continuing monthly series of titled “History of
  Parachuting and Skydiving” (about 1,000 words); Parts 1 through 11 have
  been published. (This series is in addition to “Rigger’s Notebook”
  monthly columns noted above.)
• January 2006; Elected (at Chicago plenary meeting) to post of
  Chairman, Historical Committee, Parachute Industry Association (PIA);
  continuing as researcher / writer. (Committee upgraded to “Standing”
  status from “ad hoc” committee.)
• July 2007; Communications Coordinator,”Reach for the Sky” fundraising
  event for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CC MC) in Hartford,
  conducted by Connecticut Parachutiss Inc, (CPI), a sport parachute
  club. Event was a state record try for most jumps in 12 hours by an
  individual; record made with 61 jumps.