SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT SPARKMAN 

Senior Master Sergeant Glenn S. Sparkman is an Aerospace Science Instructor at James F. Byrnes High School in Duncan, South Carolina. Sergeant Sparkman was born August 3, 1962 in West Palm Beach, Florida and graduated from Tennessee High School in 1981. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from National-Lewis University in 2003. His professional military education include resident diplomas from the Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Prep School, the Military Airlift Command NCO Academy and the Air Force Senior NCO Academy. Sergeant Sparkman enlisted in the USAF in September 1982 and was assigned to Chanute AFB, Illinois for technical training in the Minuteman II missile career field after completing basic training. In 1983 he was assigned to the 351st Strategic Missile Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri. In 1986, he applied for and was selected to become a flight engineer. After completing C-141 aircraft flight engineer training at Altus AFB, Oklahoma, Sergeant Sparkman was assigned to the 76th Military Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, South Carolina. During this time, Sergeant Sparkman was selected to represent the Wing as a member of the “Airlift Rodeo” airdrop competition team flying the C-141 aircraft. He also supported the Intermediate Nuclear Force (INF) treaty verification by flying missions to the Soviet Union. Sergeant Sparkman participated in Operations Golden Pheasant, Just Cause, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1992, Sergeant Sparkman was assigned to the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, McClellan AFB, California to fly on the WC-135 aircraft. He flew on Polar (North Pole) missions collecting data vital to National Command Authorities and Operations American Express and Pony Express. He was selected for the initial cadre for the OC-135 aircraft which flew the “Open Skies” nuclear treaty verification mission. While Sergeant Sparkman was attending the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy in 1993, the 55th shut down operations at McClellan AFB and moved to the 24th Reconnaissance Squadron at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. Arriving at Offutt in December 1993, Sergeant Sparkman flew for the next 11 months in the WC-135,TC-135, KC-135, and the OC-135 aircraft. In 1995, Sergeant Sparkman was selected for special duty assignment with the 1st Military Airlift Squadron, Andrews AFB, Maryland. He quickly upgraded in the VC-137 and the VC-135 aircraft. He held positions in the squadron as the Superintendent of Training and Standards Evaluation. In 1997, he moved to the 89th Operations Group Standards Evaluation. During this assignment, he authored a flight crew information electronic distribution and tracking process and developed a basic flight engineer conversion course for the Wing’s flight mechanics. He was also selected as an augmenter to the Presidential aircrew flying Air Force One, the President’s aircraft. In 2001, the Presidential Airlift Group was established, and Sergeant Sparkman became a full time crew member aboard Air Force One. At the Presidential Group he held the position of Superintendent of the flight engineers and the Operational Risk Management Program for the unit. During his career, Sergeant Sparkman accumulated over 7000 flying hours in eight different aircraft. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Aerial Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters. Sergeant Sparkman retired from active duty in June 2005. He and his wife, Darlene R. (Becky) Sparkman, are blessed with two grown children and five precious grandchildren. They spend as much time as possible with their grandchildren. They also enjoy attending car shows where they frequently take their national award winning 1969 Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro (Yes it's real), and the Ferrari killing GMC Syclone. SMSgt Sparkman is also a struggling guitar player.