Individual Details
Donald Paul McCanless
(March 31, 1954 - )
"Don McCanless was born in San Antonio, Texas, in the Nix Memorial Hospital. (Birth information from Texas Birth Certificate #142-54-036542, dated 5 Apr 1954; amended 25 Sep 1974.) He attended Highlands High School (class of 1972) and Trinity University (class of 1976, Bachelor's in Computer Science).
"Following graduation, Don decided to join the military. He selected the U.S. Air Force since that was the only branch of service that would guarantee he could use his new computer science degree. He entered Officers Training School, Lackland AFB, Texas, in May 1977, and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant on August 8, 1977.
"His first assignment was as a computer programmer-analyst at Headquarters (HQ) Strategic Air Command (SAC), located at Offutt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska. He arrived at a time when lieutenants were very rare in the HQ, and he really stood out as an exception. Fortunately, he worked with a wonderful group of people who made his transition to the military lifestyle very easy. However, even they could not help with the cold winters!
"Don was eventually selected by the Air Force to receive his Master's Degree. He was transferred to the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, in May 1981. For the next 18 months, he slaved to complete his degree. On December 8, 1982, Don received his Master's Degree in Information Systems.
"Don was then transferred to the Pentagon, Washington, DC. He actually lived in Alexandria and Springfield, Virginia. Don began leading software development teams from his office in the bottom-most level of the basement.
"In December 1985, Don again returned to HQ SAC. This time, he moved into the acquisition side of business, acquiring computers and services in support of SAC. In 1990, Don was reassigned to Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi, to attend a five-month long class on computers and communications. Moving twice in one year was quite a burden.
"Again in December, this time in 1990, Don moved to his next assignment at Gunter AFB (later renamed Maxwell AFB Gunter Annex) in Montgomery, Alabama. There, he was in charge of a group of software engineers trying to improve the methods used to develop software. One of his first tasks was to review and comment on the organization's Strategic Plan. When he had some changes, he was put in contact with the person writing the Plan. As "the new kid on the block," his ideas were not received with great enthusiasm. However, nine months later, Don married the person in charge of the Plan, Melissa. (Information from Alabama (Montgomery County) Marriage Certificate, 15 Nov 1991.) This turned out to be a good assignment, after all.
"Late on a Friday afternoon in 1993, Don received a telephone call informing him he had been selected for an assignment with NATO in Izmir, Turkey. In August, Don, Melissa and Ryan arrived in Turkey to begin their overseas adventure. Life was very different from the U.S. and, as there was no U.S. military base, they were forced to live on the economy in an apartment on the fifth floor. At least they got to overlook the Izmir Bay, looking toward the Aegean Sea.
"Life in Turkey was difficult for the McCanlesses. Terrorism was a constant problem, and terrorist bombs did go off nearby family members. Melissa had to have surgery in a Turkish hospital that was botched into an eight-day, near-death ordeal. When the time came to return to the U.S. in August 1995, everyone was happy to be home again.
"Following Turkey, Don again returned to Wright-Patterson AFB. There, he eventually became the Deputy Director running a major computer center. In December 1996, as Don was approaching his 20-year point in the Air Force, the collective family decided it was time to retire. Don filed his retirement paperwork just after Christmas, and Don retired effective June 1, 1997.
"Between Christmas of 1996 and retirement, Don began searching for a job, mailing out over 450 resumes. He selected a position at a university near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the family move to West Chester, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 1997. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts and internal political problems, Don's job only lasted two months. He began his career search all over and, again, did not know what the future would bring for the entire family." (Donald Paul McCanless, 1998.)
"Following graduation, Don decided to join the military. He selected the U.S. Air Force since that was the only branch of service that would guarantee he could use his new computer science degree. He entered Officers Training School, Lackland AFB, Texas, in May 1977, and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant on August 8, 1977.
"His first assignment was as a computer programmer-analyst at Headquarters (HQ) Strategic Air Command (SAC), located at Offutt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska. He arrived at a time when lieutenants were very rare in the HQ, and he really stood out as an exception. Fortunately, he worked with a wonderful group of people who made his transition to the military lifestyle very easy. However, even they could not help with the cold winters!
"Don was eventually selected by the Air Force to receive his Master's Degree. He was transferred to the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, in May 1981. For the next 18 months, he slaved to complete his degree. On December 8, 1982, Don received his Master's Degree in Information Systems.
"Don was then transferred to the Pentagon, Washington, DC. He actually lived in Alexandria and Springfield, Virginia. Don began leading software development teams from his office in the bottom-most level of the basement.
"In December 1985, Don again returned to HQ SAC. This time, he moved into the acquisition side of business, acquiring computers and services in support of SAC. In 1990, Don was reassigned to Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi, to attend a five-month long class on computers and communications. Moving twice in one year was quite a burden.
"Again in December, this time in 1990, Don moved to his next assignment at Gunter AFB (later renamed Maxwell AFB Gunter Annex) in Montgomery, Alabama. There, he was in charge of a group of software engineers trying to improve the methods used to develop software. One of his first tasks was to review and comment on the organization's Strategic Plan. When he had some changes, he was put in contact with the person writing the Plan. As "the new kid on the block," his ideas were not received with great enthusiasm. However, nine months later, Don married the person in charge of the Plan, Melissa. (Information from Alabama (Montgomery County) Marriage Certificate, 15 Nov 1991.) This turned out to be a good assignment, after all.
"Late on a Friday afternoon in 1993, Don received a telephone call informing him he had been selected for an assignment with NATO in Izmir, Turkey. In August, Don, Melissa and Ryan arrived in Turkey to begin their overseas adventure. Life was very different from the U.S. and, as there was no U.S. military base, they were forced to live on the economy in an apartment on the fifth floor. At least they got to overlook the Izmir Bay, looking toward the Aegean Sea.
"Life in Turkey was difficult for the McCanlesses. Terrorism was a constant problem, and terrorist bombs did go off nearby family members. Melissa had to have surgery in a Turkish hospital that was botched into an eight-day, near-death ordeal. When the time came to return to the U.S. in August 1995, everyone was happy to be home again.
"Following Turkey, Don again returned to Wright-Patterson AFB. There, he eventually became the Deputy Director running a major computer center. In December 1996, as Don was approaching his 20-year point in the Air Force, the collective family decided it was time to retire. Don filed his retirement paperwork just after Christmas, and Don retired effective June 1, 1997.
"Between Christmas of 1996 and retirement, Don began searching for a job, mailing out over 450 resumes. He selected a position at a university near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the family move to West Chester, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 1997. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts and internal political problems, Don's job only lasted two months. He began his career search all over and, again, did not know what the future would bring for the entire family." (Donald Paul McCanless, 1998.)
Events
| Birth | March 31, 1954 | San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas | |||
| Marriage | November 9, 1991 | Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama - Melissa Lynn Blanton |
Families
| Spouse | Melissa Lynn Blanton ( - ) |
| Child | Donald Ryan McCanless (1981 - ) |
| Father | Donald Ross McCanless (1911 - ) |
| Mother | Lena Lamza (1918 - ) |