Holloman Tuskegee Chapter honors legacy
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE–Tuskegee Airmen are an influential group of World War II pilots who set an outstanding example for all to be proud of.
Their legacy lives on through Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated, and its many chapters. Larry “Jet” Jackson, Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated Western Region mentor, is a shining example as to why the legacy continues.
Jackson consistently promotes educational flying opportunities through various youth aviation programs. He directs a week-long summer Aviation Career Education Academy, which exposes up to 30 kids to Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics and aviation career opportunities; both in the civilian and military sectors.
Students have traveled from as far away as Canada and Panama to attend this extremely popular program, conducted jointly by the Archer Ragsdale Arizona Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen Inc., and the Federal Aviation Administration.
As a retired Southwest Airlines captain, Jackson serves as an ambassador to the Southwest Airlines Continuing the Legacy in Aviation program for youth. Each fall, Southwest Airlines sponsors 25 youth with chaperones on a tour of the company’s Dallas, Texas, headquarters. The students are also assigned an ambassador for long-term career guidance and mentoring.
Jackson initially fulfilled his dream of flying by joining the United States Air Force in 1973 after graduating from the University of Southern California. Jackson went on to fly the F-4 Phantom, Northrop F-5 and F-15 Eagle.
He is a top graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, and former chief of academics at the school. Jackson served as an F-15 Eagle pilot, here, from 1984 to 1987. He also served as a flight commander and assistant operations officer.
In 1992, he had the honor of meeting retired General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. who was the first commander of the 99th Pursuit Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group, both legendary Tuskegee Airmen units. In 1993, Jackson retired as a lieutenant colonel after serving as the operations officer in the 555th “Triple Nickel” Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB, Arizona.
After his retirement he joined the team at Southwest Airlines and was upgraded to captain in 1998. He credits fellow chapter member, retired Lt. Col. Robert Ashby, Tuskegee Airmen and his long-time mentor, for paving the way for him to become a commercial airline pilot. Out of the 996 African American pilots who graduated from the program at Tuskegee, Robert Ashby was the only one to become a commercial airline pilot. Jackson retired from Southwest Airlines in 2015.
Jackson continues to reach back to assist the next generation of aviators and engineers. The Holloman Tuskegee Airmen Chapter is very appreciative of Jackson’s assistance in building our community outreach programs, and promoting the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.