Meet Lester T. Pepin, U.S.A.F. — 2020 Veteran
Lieutenant Colonel Lester T. Pepin was born August 1, 1952, in Jacksonville, Texas where he graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1970. He earned an Associate of Science Degree from Trinity Valley Junior College, a Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas A&M University (TAMU) in 1975 and a Master of Arts Degree from Webster University in 1979.
Spending the next twenty-six years in the United States Air Force (USAF) his Professional Military Education (PME) includes Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College (Joint) and a myriad of aircraft maintenance, chemical/conventional/nuclear munitions, nuclear counterterrorism and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) technical training.
After receiving his Commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) in 1975, Lt Col Pepin attended the United States Air Force (USAF) School of Applied Aerospace Sciences Munitions Officer Course at Lowry AFB, Colorado. Upon graduation in November, 1976, Lt Col Pepin was assigned to the 3098th Aviation Depot Squadron, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, as Chief of Munitions Storage and Handling, Weapons Maintenance, Quality Assurance and Nuclear Safety.
Upon completion of this tour he was chosen to attend the U.S. Army Missile and Munitions School at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama, as a Technical Escort Officer. Graduating first in his class, he was then assigned to the 50th Ammunition Supply Squadron, Morbach, West Germany, in January, 1979, as Maintenance Supervisor of the largest U.S. conventional munitions storage depot on the continent. Lt Col Pepin was also the Officer in Charge of United States Air Forces Europe's (USAFE) only Technical Escort Unit, responsible for the movement and transfer of all chemical munitions throughout the European theater.
In October, 1981, Lt Col Pepin became Assistant Chief of the Munitions Facility Branch, European Air Combat Operations Staff, Headquarters USAFE, Ramstein Air Base, West Germany. After successfully completing duties planning for the storage of all nuclear and conventional munitions in USAFE, he accepted his first of two assignments to Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, as an AFROTC Associate Professor of Aerospace Studies in May 1983, in charge of training and academic/military education of over 700 students.
Three years later in July, 1986, Lt Col Pepin became Maintenance Supervisor for the 26th Aircraft Generation Squadron (AGS), later assuming command of the 26th Component Repair Squadron (CRS), Zweibrucken Air Base, West Germany, in March, 1987. He directed diverse and complex organizational and intermediate maintenance of aircraft equipment and components, production activities,administrative functions, training and welfare of 220 personnel in 20 separate work centers in support of the only U.S. tactical reconnaissance wing in the European theater.
Lt Col Pepin's next assignment in July, 1989, was as a student at the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, successfully completing a rigorous academic program of over 916 hours, scoring in "Top 20 Percent" on final exams, garnered recognition as a "top writer" and demonstrated exceptional leadership during RADEX — a rapid deployment exercise. His follow-on duties in July, 1990, was as Chief, Nuclear Incidents Branch, Headquarters, Defense Nuclear Agency, Alexandria, Virginia. It was here where he developed, conducted and evaluated national level nuclear counterterrorism response procedures and exercises stateside and at classified overseas locations.
After successfully completing his tour in the D.C. area he moved on to F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming in July, 1993 and assumed command of the 90th Munitions Maintenance Squadron (MMS), the only USAF unit supporting maintenance of all Minuteman III and Peacekeeper reentry systems, related aerospace ground equipment and conventional munitions assets in support of a 200-alert sortie intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force dispersed over 12,600 square miles in the tri-state region of Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska.
When the 90th Missile Wing reorganized in July, 1994, he accepted command of the 31st Maintenance Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy. As Commander, Lt Col Pepin directed all aircraft maintenance and munitions operations for 100 U.S. and NATO fighter aircraft with direct supervision of 660 personnel conducting sustained combat operations 24 hours a day in a hostile environment supporting Operations DENY FLIGHT and DELIBERATE FORCE. He received numerous Department of Defense (DoD), USAFE and Numbered Air Force (NAF) awards for outstanding leadership and programs.
After this strenuous overseas tour Lt Col Pepin headed stateside in August, 1996, as Deputy Director of Operations/Logistics, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. It was here he directed all personnel, financial and technical support programs of a large DoD logistical support organization overseeing a $258M budget and $25M in equipment and supplies. He led and managed all human resources functions for a staff of 130 executive and technical-level personnel and administered international counter-proliferation support programs, including analysis and effects of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). He also directed a $2.9M construction project of the Defense Nuclear Weapons School culminating in a modern DoD facility.
In July, 1999, Lt Col Pepin volunteered for his second AFROTC tour at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, as an Associate Professor of Aerospace Studies and Air Force Staff Director. He provided leadership, training and educational/career guidance to over 450 AFROTC cadets, Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) students and TAMU Medical School students at our nation's second largest university.
As Staff Director for career Air Force personnel, Lt Col Pepin was responsible for recruiting and instructing potential Air Force officers at TAMU, the largest source of commissioned officers outside the Service academies. He directed cadet subsistence, text-book reimbursement, tuition/uniform payment programs of $1.1M and initiated the first-ever medical mentor's program culminating in his award as an outstanding leader and instructor from the University. This was Lt Col Pepin's last assignment of his twenty-six year successful Air Force career.
His military awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the USAF Meritorious Service Medal with ovate MTN oh oak leaf cluster, the USAF Commendation Medal, the USAF Outstanding Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster, the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with "N" device and one bronze oak leaf cluster, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the USAF Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon with one bronze star and the National Defense Service Medal. He has also been awarded the USAF Master Maintenance Badge, the USAF Senior Missile Badge and Air Education & Training Command Master Instructor Badge.
Lt Col Pepin is married to the former Linda Jane Bonner of Jacksonville, Texas. They have four children and eight grandchildren.
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Jeff Anderson
CEO/Founder, Rebuilding Warriors
