(Photo submitted) Major David Vollmer, his wife Michelle and son, Michael celebrate on David's final day of active duty with the USAF. Vollmer served the country for 20 years with the Air Force.

Major David Vollmer, Deputy, USAF C-12 Operations and Training, Air Force Materiel Command Flight Operations and Stan/Eval Division, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Operating Location Fort Rucker, Alabama retired from active duty March 31, 2008, after serving in the Air Force for 20 years

Vollmer is the son of Jim and Jody Vollmer from Spencer. He grew up on their farm 5.5 miles south of Spencer and graduated from Clay Central in 1982. His parents moved into town when they retired from farming.

Vollmer met his wife, Michelle at ISU and lived on his grandpa's farm 4.5 miles south of Spencer for 9 months while he waited to go to Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training after he graduated from ISU.

The couple have one son, Michael.

Vollmer received his Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames in May 1987 and was commissioned later the same day through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. After completing Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin AFB, Texas, Major Vollmer was assigned to Detachment 5, 1400 Military Airlift Squadron, which later reorganized into Detachment 3, 459th Airlift Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada, in June 1989. There he piloted the C-12F in direct support of 37th Fighter Wing's F-117A stealth fighter program and other classified programs, ultimately upgrading to instructor pilot. During this first assignment, he flew several missions in support of Operations JUST CAUSE and DESERT SHIELD/STORM. He also served as detachment Chief of Training and later as Asst Chief of Stan/Eval.

In October 1992, Vollmer was assigned to the 22nd Airlift Squadron at Travis AFB, California, flying the mighty C-5 Galaxy. There he again served as Training Officer, Chief Executive Officer and later Assistant Operations Officer. As an experienced Aircraft Commander from the C-12F, he rapidly upgraded to C-5 aerial refueling aircraft commander and soon to instructor aircraft commander. During his first tour in the 22nd, Maj Vollmer flew numerous missions in support of Operations RESTORE HOPE, PROVIDE COMFORT, and UPHOLD DEMOCRACY.

Vollmer's next assignment was to continue flying the C-5 as an instructor at the Altus AFB Combat Crew Training School in March 1996. He quickly attained schoolhouse airland and aerial refueling instructor qualifications and served as the scheduling flight commander for the 56th Airlift Squadron. He later served as Chief of Airlift Scheduling in the 97th Operations Support Group's Current Operations Flight. Vollmer was often assigned to fly with the "tough case" students and considers this one of his most fulfilling assignments. Vollmer continued to support operational Air Force requirements by flying a mission to Kuwait in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.

In June 1999, Vollmer returned to Travis AFB and began a rapid series of assignments with ever-increasing responsibility. He returned to the 22nd Airlift Squadron to be the Chief of Stan/Eval for a few months before moving on to the 60th Operations Group to be the Asst Chief of Aircrew Stan/Eval. While there, Vollmer was selected to represent the 60th Air Mobility Wing at the Air Mobility Command's Airlift Rodeo; winning honors as the Best C-5 Aircrew, the Best Airlift Wing, and the Best C-5 Wing. In December 2000, Vollmer was selected to be the Chief C-5 Pilot Examiner for the 15th Air Force, a Higher Headquarters position based at Travis.

In June 2003, Vollmer moved to Fort Rucker, Ala. to Detachment 5 of the Air Mobility Command Air Operations Squadron, recently reoganized as Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command Flight Operations and Stan/Eval, Operating Location Fort Rucker. Here, at the Air Force's C-12 schoolhouse, he has held every position in the organization from training officer to commander at some point during his final assignment.

Vollmer is a command pilot with over 5,500 hours in the T-37, T-38, C-12, and C-5.