Don's Biography
(If you got this far, you obviously need more excitement in your life.)
I was born in Ohio in 1943. I spent most of my childhood years in West Portsmouth, Ohio and Cameron, West Virginia. I graduated from Cameron High School in 1961. I joined the U.S. Air Force immediately after high school and made a career of it until retiring in 1982.
I met my first wife, Helen, in Battle Creek, Michigan and we were married in 1964. I have 2 wonderful children by that marriage, Dawn and Steve. Dawn and her husband, Joe, have given us four wonderful grandchildren: Dianna, Michael, Garrett and Julianne. Steve and his wife, Jennifer, have given us a wonderful granddaughter, Arianna. My marriage to Helen ended in divorced in 1973.
I met Char in Saratoga Springs, New York in October, 1974 and we were married in January, 1975. We have a daughter, Sue Ann, who is married to John Denny and they live and work in Alaska. Sue Ann and John have given us a wonderful granddaughter, Faith. I thank God every day that I have such a wonderful wife, children and grandchildren. I have truly been blessed.
In 2004 Char retired from her job as Fiscal Officer for the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. When not helping me with chores on the farm, she spends her spare time writing her novels and performing her duties as Editor for Soulmate Publishing. She currently has three published novels.
During my 20 plus years in the Air Force I was stationed at: 3711 BMTS, Flight 853, Lackland AFB, Texas (1961); 3405th Student Squadron, Keesler AFB, Mississippi (1961-62); 781st Radar Squadron, Custer AFS in Battle Creek, Michigan (1962-65); 727th TCS, Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina (1966); Bergstrom AFB, Texas (1967); 640th AC& W Sq., Stephenville AFS, Newfoundland (1967-68); Eglin AFB, Florida (1968-70); 641st, AC& W Sq. Melville AFS, Labrador (1970-71), 758th AC&W Sq., Neah Bay AFS, Washington (1971-73); 656th AC&W Sq. Saratoga AFS, New York (1973-76); Instructor duty at Keesler AFB, Mississippi (1976-78); and ended my career at Nellis AFB, in Las Vegas, Nevada (1978-82).
I was a Radar/Digital Technician for the first 16 years of service and a Computer Programmer/Analyst for the last 4 years. I had a 1 year break in service from March 1965 to March 1966. During that time I worked for Ford Motor Company at a stamping plant in Chicago, Illinois. We made Mustang parts.
I graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. My major was Vocational Education (Computer Programming and Electronics) and my minor was in Mathematics.
Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1982, I joined RCA Service Company as a Radar/Digital Technician at Indian Mountain AFS, Alaska. Within a year I was promoted to Communications, Electronics and Meteorological (CEM) Supervisor and worked there until the Fall of 1984.
In October 1984, I accepted a position with EG&G Special Projects as a Computer Programmer/Analyst and worked there until 1988. I worked at the infamous AREA-51. My job was so secret that if I tell you any more about it, I will have to shoot you!
In June of 1988 I accepted a management position with RCA Service Company at the Fairbanks Command and Data Acquisition Station (FCDAS) in Fairbanks, Alaska. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions I soon found myself an employee of GE Government Services then Martin Marietta Technical Services and finally Lockheed Martin Technical services. Through that heritage of companies I remained employed in the same position as a Satellite Operations Manager until my retirement from Lockheed Martin in the Fall of 2000.
I currently own and operate an Aerospace and Defense consulting business (Chaffin Consulting Services) which specializes in government contracts and proposal assistance. The business requires me to periodically assist aerospace contractors with writing technical and cost proposals.
In July of 2004 Char and I began spending more time at our second home in Upstate New York. It is a farm in Saint Johnsville, NY that was previously operated as a dairy farm. It is very relaxing to spend time in the country.
In July of 2005 Char and I bought a car wash in Saint Johnsville, NY. The duties at the car wash blend nicely with our duties on the farm. Then in February 2006 we opened a drive-thru espresso stand, Mohawk Valley Coffee & Espresso, on the car wash property. We held our Grand Opening in May 2006. Then in February 2007 I decided to convert one of my hobbies to a business. I had been providing pro-bono web design services to several non profit organizations and several businesses had contacted me to create a web presence for them. Thus was born Eye Define Web Design, our web design service.
Masonic Fraternity
Church:
Rotary International
Chamber of Commerce
Commonwealth of Kentucky
National Rifle Association
