Bill McKown

Clarence William "Bill" McKown Jr. (born 1953) is a retired United States Navy , Distinguished Eagle Scout, and currently the airport manager at Stevens Field, near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, in Archuleta County.
Personal life
McKown was born in 1953 at Clark Air Base, Philippines where his father, retired US Air Force Master Sergeant McKown was stationed. Growing up in Riverside, California, as a child, McKown was so fascinated with aviation that he had over 200 model airplanes hanging from his bedroom ceiling.<ref name="pagosa1"/> He attributes his initial Scouting background to his grandfather, William Robert Babb also of Riverside. He first joined Scouts at age 14, earned Eagle Scout at age 16, and went on to earn two Silver Palms. He has been married to his wife, Deborah. They have two sons, William and Kenneth, and daughter Krystal.
Education
* 1976 - AA in Liberal Arts, Arkansas State University, Beebe, Arkansas<ref name="bio"/><ref name="AACC"/>
* 1977 - BS in Industrial Technology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois<ref name="bio"/><ref name="pagosa5"/>
* 1977 - Associate of Applied Science Degree in General Electronics, Community College of the Air Force, San Antonio, Texas<ref name="bio"/>
* 2000 - Certificate, National Security Studies Management, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York<ref name="bio"/>
* 2003 - MS in National Security Resource Strategy National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, New Jersey<ref name="bio"/><ref name="pagosa5"/>
* 2004 - Federal Executive Fellow, U. S. Navy, U. S. Department of State Foreign Service Institute, National Foreign Affairs Training Center, Arlington Hall, Arlington, Virginia<ref name="bio"/>
Scouting
McKown has been involved in Scouting with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) since he was a youth. He became an Eagle Scout on August 18, 1969, BSA Troop 290, Riverside County Council, California.<ref name="pagosa1"/> Other BSA achievements include: Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow in 1972, Silver Beaver Award recipient in 1995, and a Distinguished Eagle Scout and International Scouter's Award recipient, both in 2006.<ref name="desalista"/><ref name="alachuaeagle"/><ref name="international"/> He has been active at the unit, district, council, and region levels of the BSA in several states as well as the President of the Far East Council Japan; as well as serving as Wood Badge staff member, including serving as a Scoutmaster. Both of his sons became Eagle Scouts in 1996 with Troop 679, Ramona, California.
Military service
McKown first entered military service in 1972 right out of high school as an enlisted member of the United States Air Force and became a missile electronics technician.<ref name="pagosa1"/> McKown received his commission in 1978 through Officer Training School, Lackland AFB TX. He became a second lieutenant in the Air Force in 1977 and served as a navigator and electronic warfare officer.<ref name="pagosa1"/> In January 1982, he obtained an inter-service transfer from the Air Force and received Navy primary flight training at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Florida.<ref name="bio"/> He was designated a Naval Aviator, pilot,<ref name="pagosa1"/><ref name="bio"/> in July 1983 and became an E2-C Hawkeye pilot. He has held operational positions in flying units and served as Aviation Squadron Commander,<ref name="pagosa5"/> Fleet Coordinating Group Commander and Officer Development, Naval Education Training Command Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit Commander.<ref name="bio"/> In 1990 he was honored as the Naval Air Force, Pacific "Aircraft Carrier Pilot of the Year". McKown has combat experience in the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War, where he flew with VAW-115 providing Airborne Early Warning missions in support of Coalition forces and the Battle Group&en;during which time he flew combat missions in the Gulf War.<ref name="bio"/> He is a Naval Forces Tailhook Pilot of the year with over 3900 flight hours in the E-2C Hawkeye and 6500 total hours. He has achieved over 540 aircraft craft carrier arrested landings. McKown Served as Commanding Officer, VAW-114 assigned to Carrier Air Wing 15,<ref name="bio"/> from 1994 to 1995. In 1999 he stood up a new Navy Flight Training Squadron while working on the Naval Air Training Command Staff.<ref name="newsq"/> In 2001-2002 he was selected for a Secretary of Defense Fellowship but was unable to attend due to command resource requirements. In 2002 he was selected for the Federal Executive Fellowship Program. McKown served as the Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.<ref name="aircrew"/> He retired from the Navy December 31, 2007, completing 35 years of military service.<ref name="pagosa1"/><ref name="bio"/><ref name="pagosa5"/> He has over 6000 flight hours and 1000 carrier landings. McKown holds the following aviation ratings: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) private pilot’s license, multi-engine instrument qualification, aircraft carrier aviation command pilot, flight instructor for the Naval Air Training Command, and special instrument rating.<ref name="bio"/><ref name="pagosa5"/> McKown was also instrumental in the Naval Aviation Process Improvement Program (NAPPI). He was also one of the authors of a study by The Industrial College of the Armed Forces on "Space Industry".<ref name="space"/>
McKown's military awards include the Legion of Merit (2 Gold Stars), Meritorious Service Medal (2 Gold Stars), Air Medal one Individual and 5 Strike Flight, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal 4 awards and Combat "V", Air Force Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Later in life
McKown's fascination with aviation did not end when he left the military. He became the manager at Stevens Field, Archuleta County, near Pagosa Springs, Colorado in April 2008. He was the unanimous choice out of a field of four finalists.<ref name="pagosa6"/> The area's pristine beauty fascinated him. He sees a bright future for the airport, especially with the FAA funding it is receiving. Surprisingly, he does not own an airplane. He continues his work with Scouting,<ref name="pagosa1"/> including founding and working with Venturing Crew 803 at Stevens Field that specializes in aviation.<ref name="pagosa2"/><ref name="cpa"/> McKown was a 2009 board member candidate for the Pagosa Chamber of Commerce, but was unsuccessful.<ref name="pagosa3"/> In September 2010 McKown served as the air boss of a Sport Air Racing League event at Stevens Field.<ref name="pagosa4"/> McKown serves as director and chairman of the Wounded Warrior Program in Pagosa Springs.<ref name="pagosa7"/><ref name="aztec"/>

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