Lt. Col. Thomas J. (Calkins) Meyer delights in teaching in Martinsville, Virginia at Patrick Henry Community College, resides in Ridgeway, Virginia, but calls Dubuque, Iowa home.  A varsity debater and four year tennis veteran, he graduated from United States Air Force Academy in 1968, winning West Point's Stewart Tennis Singles Championship in 1977.  He completed three professional military schools.  In 1974 and 1982 he earned advanced degrees from the University of Oklahoma.

A Southeast Asia tanker and Air Rescue helicopter pilot at U-Tapao and Udorn Royal Thai Air Bases, he flew 2201 hours in KC, EC, WC-135 Stratotankers and Army and Air Force Kiowa and Iroquois helicopters.  An instructor pilot, he taught others to fly HH-43 Huskies and T-41 Mescaleros.  An initiator, his SAC crew was the first to successfully refuel the C-5A Galaxy, beginning an era of nonstop global airlift of large U.S. military hardware.  A senior controller, he was TAC AWAC commander's voice to surveillance crews and the Pentagon during frequent worldwide no-notice contingency deployments.  An intern, he served Department of Energy during Project Independence.   A professor, he lectured in economics, political science and history during assignments to West Point, Air Force Academy, and Boston University (BU).  A Department Chairman at BU, he created award winning drill teams and produced symposia with Israeli officers on Correlates of Successful Military Combat.

Always a "blue-suiter," he nonetheless appreciates his collegial status alongside West Point's "long gray line," and draws inspiration from his Calkins military memorial lineage - his family history includes 431 18th and 19th century American military persons.  Among these, 313 served in the Civil War; 69 served the American Revolution. Seven family members were killed outright in battle or Revolutionary service, eight lingered to die of wounds, twelve were prisoners-of-war, 35 succumbed to disease, 52 survived to be discharged for wounds or disability.  In all, twenty-eight percent were casualties of one form or other.  Also written, an early English Calkins "was unquestionably one of those who - sword in hand - extorted the Great Magna Charta from reluctant King John at Runingmede, June 15, A.D. 1215."

Lt. Col. Meyer (USAF retired) is a command pilot and parachutist. He wears the Meritorious Service medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Presidential Unit Citation, Outstanding Unit Award with two devices, Organizational Excellence Award, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with five devices, Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, Longevity Service Ribbon with four devices, Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with device and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.