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Retired Fighter Pilot, Radio Host Featured at the 185th ARW Military Ball

By Staff Sgt. Rich Murphy, 185th Public Affairs / Published February 07, 2011

Col. Sam Clovis, USAF Ret., shares a memory about his fighter pilot days at the 185th Air Refueling Wing Military Ball on February 5, 2011 at the Marina Inn in South Sioux City, Neb. Clovis served as a fighter pilot for 25 years, flying the F-106, F-4, and the F-16. He retired as the Inspector General of North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Space Command in 1996. Photo by 2nd Lt Jeremy J. McClure
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Col. Sam Clovis, USAF Ret., shares a memory about his fighter pilot days at the 185th Air Refueling Wing Military Ball on February 5, 2011 at the Marina Inn in South Sioux City, Neb. Clovis served as a fighter pilot for 25 years, flying the F-106, F-4, and the F-16. He retired as the Inspector General of North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Space Command in 1996. Photo by 2nd Lt Jeremy J. McClure

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South Sioux City, NEB -- Local talk-radio host and retired Air Force Col. Sam Clovis spoke at the 185th Air Refueling Wing's (ARW) Military Ball Saturday evening at the Marina Inn in South Sioux City, Neb.

"I am humbled and so proud by what you do for your country," Clovis said as he addressed the men and women in attendance.

Growing up near an Air Force Base in rural Kansas, Clovis said he developed a great love for airplanes and the Air Force. "When I was younger, I loved just watching the jets take off from the base and I used to build airplane models. When I heard about the Air Force Academy on a T.V. special, I knew that is what I wanted to do. So I spent four years of high school preparing to get into the Academy.

After graduating from the Academy, Clovis served as a fighter pilot for 25 years, flying the F-106, F-4, and the F-16. He retired as the Inspector General of North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Space Command in 1996.

Clovis said the best part of his experience in the Air Force was working with the people. "I worked with the greatest, the most motivated, and the most skilled people while I was in the Air Force. I have been out for almost 14 years now and nothing has changed in that aspect. I really enjoy the culture."

Clovis is currently a Professor and Chair of the Department of Business Administration an Economics at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. He earned his Bachelor's of Science in political science from the United States Air Force Academy, his Master's in Business Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, and his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama.

Clovis's current work addresses what he considers to be the most frustrating element of military service: the bureaucracy. "I remember getting together and working with great people, coming up with great ideas, but we run into problems with bureaucracy. Nothing ever came easy." He now researches intergovernmental management and intergovernmental relations with a focus on civics.

In his speech to the men and women at the military ball, he stressed the importance of the guardsman, or the "citizen soldier," to the United States. "Guardsmen have been the backbone of the country since its founding." He added, "They gave their lives to get us to a place where we could start a constitution of the people."

Clovis concluded his presentation by telling the story of Joshua Chamberlain, a professor, a governor, and most importantly, a guardsman who fought in the civil war.

Following the speech. Col. Ed Sauley, Commander of the 185th ARW, presented Clovis with a gift from the men and women of the 185th.

For more information about Sam Clovis, visit his website at http://samclovis.com/. His show, "Impact with Sam Clovis" can be heard on KSCJ, 1360 AM, Monday through Friday from 10 a. m. till 11 a. m.