Astronomy intrigued me as a child in the 1970's after my parents gave me a 60mm department store refractor. While earning a B.S. Astronautical Engineering degree at the USAF Academy in the 1980's, I took all the available astronomy courses which included using a 24" Cassegrain. Developing plate photography was my favorite part--counting photons my least favorite...

I went on to fly F-15C's in Okinawa, Japan and F-16's in Las Vegas (RED FLAG Aggressor) and the USAF later sent me to Ohio to get an M.S. Aeronautical Engineering degree which coincided with the arrival of comet Hale-Bopp in 1997. This prompted me to buy a Meade 90mm ETX. The views were so good that I returned to the hobby. Astrophotography had always impressed me, so during Test Pilot School in 1998 I purchased an 8" Celestron FASTAR SCT & SBIG ST-237 CCD and thus became hooked. After test flying the F-16 in the Mojave Desert, I went on exchange with the RAF in Wiltshire, England and test flew Tornado, Jaguar, Hawk, Alpha Jet, and a bit of backseat Harrier. I then lived under clear New Mexico skies test flying the F-15C & AT-38B, but now live in Colorado teaching Aero Engineering & flying cadets in the T-41D (210 HP Cessna 172) & T-52A (Diamond DA40) at the USAF Academy. I'm about to retire and work with Christian Home Educators of Colorado. After selling my high-end equipment for a portable DSLR setup to spend more time with my family, I'm enjoying visual astronomy and widefield imaging for quick looks and photos of the heavens.

There is no conflict between the triune God and science. He is the amazing creator of it all--gravity, electro-magnetism, thermonuclear fusion, etc. We don't fully understand His universe, but it sure is fun marvelling at what He has done.

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