Wall of Fame Members

Maj Gen Dan Dick, USAF - VPI 1970

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Bio: Maj Gen Dick joined the AF because the Vietnam War was going hot and heavy during his High School and College years. His draft number was being 15 meant he would be drafted immediately after he lost his college deferment. Therefore, he joined the Corps and AFROTC. He was a industrial engineer major, a member of S squadron being a 1st LT and XO his senior year, and in Arnold Air Society, graduating in 1970.

He served as a fighter pilot in the Air Force for 33 years, where he commanded the Air Force’s first operational F-16 fighter squadron, the Air Force’s largest night fighting LANTIRN F-16 Wing, all Air Force forces in the Persian Gulf enforcing the United Nations no-fly zone and air embargo over Iraq, and 13th Air Force with responsibilities for all Air Force operations in a 32-country area in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.   He is a command pilot with over 3,600 flying hours in F-4s and F-16s, including 155 combat hours and 51 missions over Iraq.

He was inducted into the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni in 1997 and was the recipient of the 2008 ISE Department’s Marvin H. Agee Distinguished Alumni Award. He was also inducted into the Virginia Tech Academy of Engineering Excellence in 2013. Not only is Maj Gen Dick an active member of Industrial and Systems Engineering Department’s but the corps as well. For many years he was the Corps’ Central Virginia Regional Coordinator where he presented the Corps’ scholarships to graduating High School seniors, attended college fairs and talked about the Corps at Senator Warner’s Annual Academy Day. He also supports the Corps with his VTCC Major General Dan Dick ‘70 ELS Scholarship.

After he retired from the AF he worked for General Dynamics and L-3 Communications for about six years before going the consulting route so he could move to Charlottesville.

LtCol Mark Mamula, USAF - VPI 1975

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Bio: Lt Col Mamula graduated from Virginia Tech and the Corps of Cadets in 1975. Upon graduation, he chose to pursue a life of service by commissioning into the United States Air Force.  This led him to start his aviation career at Undergraduate Pilot Training, at which he was selected to fly the C-141 Starlifter. Following his completion of flight training in the C-141, he flew over 4,400 total hours, as a command pilot, an instructor pilot, and a nuclear airlift courier.   

While serving as a command pilot in the Lebanese Civil War, Lt Col Mamula earned the distinguished Air Medal while responding to the bombing of US Marines during the emergency airlift on 24 October 1983. After hearing of the incident, he and his aircrew immediately volunteered to assist with the emergency airlift, disregarding all personal and crew requirements to help the Marines in Beirut, Lebanon, without knowledge of current conditions of the airport and surrounding battle. Flying at night through both bad weather and constant threat of exposure from ground attack, Lt Col Mamula flew the aircraft blacked-out and was able to land safely at Beirut Airport, despite obstacles and rocket fire sighted two miles beyond. Once on the ground, their cargo was swiftly unloaded in complete darkness despite constant firefighting around them and the threat of a rocket or sniper attack. During unloading, one of the C-141's thrust reversers would not lock into place following the unload, forcing the crew to complete one hour of difficult maintenance while on the ground to shut off that engine and pin its thrust reverser, again in total darkness. To maintain safety during takeoff, Lt Col Mamula led his crew through a total blackout takeoff from Beirut Airport, and after stopping for fuel at a nearby naval station, arrived safely back at Rein Air Base after a 20-hour mission. Following his time in Beirut, Lt Col Mamula served as the Squadron Commander of the 19th Airlift Squadron at Travis Air Force Base and then concluded his career working at the Secretary of the Air Force Foreign Affairs in the Pentagon after 22 years of active-duty service.  

After retiring from the Air Force, Lt Col Mamula went on to serve in multiple civilian positions in the Aerospace Engineering field, to include working and developing systems with Aerojet Rocketdyne in Gainesville, Virginia, and is the co-author of Patent No. 9,726,115 B1; Selectable Ramjet Propulsion System, August 8, 2017. His love of aviation brought him to where his now, as an aerospace engineer specializing in aircraft propulsion systems, having earned both a Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech and a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Dayton.
 

LtCol George L. Bourne, USAF - VPI 1973

Branch: U.S. Marine Corps

Bio: Lt. Colonel George “Les” Bourne Retired worked on the Taylor Farm outside of Richmond from 1964 till he decided to come to Virginia Polytechnic Institute at State University in 1968. Pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Forestry and Wildlife. He found time to work at what is now the Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport on the weekends working just under where now the Welcome to Virginia sign is hung. He spent his time moving planes around and refueling them. Also joining the Highty-Tighties drum line and working in the mess hall took up the rest of his free time. In 1973 he graduated with his Bachelors Forestry and Wildlife. He returned to the Taylor Farm till 1974 where he went to pilot training at Vance AFB in Oklahoma. At the end of the class in 1975 he found himself rated the second-best student but, with only one fighter to choose from he was given the option to become a flight instructor. After moving to Webb Air force Base in Big Spring Texas he became acquainted with his new aircraft the Cessna T-37. When Webb was closed, he then went to Squadron Officer School in Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Les was faced with the decision of a “heavy” or a desk. Since no pilot wants to fly a desk, he headed to California where he came face to face with the heaviest of the heavy the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress, also affectionately known as the “BUFF” Big Ugly Fat Fellow. After a small stop in California to get familiarized with the Stratofortress it was then on the KI Sawyer AFB in Michigan. Then Transferring to Del Rio to and upgrading to the T-38. When the based closed he found himself on the Del Rio Police and earning his marksmanship rating. Then he was able to upgrade to San Antonio Texas to Randolph Air Force base to the T-38 training pilots how to become instructors of pilots. He then did a short tour in Biloxi, Mississippi. He the transferred back home to Randolph Air Force base where he later retired with 23 years of service. After being type rated in the Boeing 737. Les made a 2nd career of 18 years with United Airlines flying the McDonald Douglas DC-10, the Boeing 757, 767 and 777. In his time at United he found himself wanting to build his own aircraft. After much researching, he landed on the Vans RV-8 (N393LS). After 3 years on the nose the plane took flight. He has won Reserved Grand Champion at Sun ‘n Fun and bronze at Oshkosh raking him the 2nd RV-8 in the nation. He has held the training to fly a Pilatus PC-12, Citation 650 for corporate travel. His best friend owns a Mooney M20T, where Les spends a lot of time in instructing and flying. He has worked on over a dozen different builds with people just opening the box all the way thru test flying the plane for them. The last plane he helped build was a RV-10(N783V). You may know the tail number from YouTube. The RV-10 also received many awards like reserved grand at Sun ‘n Fun and Bronze at Oshkosh ranking number one RV-10 in the nation. Then won Grand Champion at Land of Enchantment. As of the time writing this Les has piloted 69 different aircraft. All around Les is a master pilot and a master craftsman. He has done Virginia Tech well by proving to the world Hokies can Fly!   

Capt Clyde D. Bailey, USN - VPI 1967

Branch: U.S. Navy

Bio: Capt Bailey graduated from Virginia Tech and the Corps of Cadets in 1967. Upon graduation, he chose to pursue a life of service commissioning into the United States Air Force. Capt Bailey began his aviation career as a C-130B/E Pilot during the Vietnam War. He was based out of Tan Son Nhut in Saigon for over 16 months, racking up 582 combat hours in the C-130E. After he had the opportunity to become an instructor pilot in theater and prepare Airmen for combat. After flying in Vietnam, Capt Bailey joined Eastern Airlines as a commercial pilot and still served in the West Virginia Air National Guard participating in the air mobility mission for a little over four years. Capt Bailey’s service did not stop when he was out of uniform. While in a layover in 1993, Capt Bailey’s hotel caught on fire. After he initially made it outside, he realized that his flight crew was still inside, and rushed into the building to ensure they made it out alive. Not only that, he has also helped raise a great family that has also led a life of service. Capt Bailey perfectly embodies the ideals upon which the Aviation Wall of Fame was founded over two decades ago. As an aviator he is not only committed to the advancement of his field but also the concept of Ut Prosim. Capt Bailey has also spent time giving back to Virginia Tech serving on the Distinguished Alumni Board for VT College of Liberal arts and human sciences. Constantly working to inspire and teach the next generation of leaders and aviators in the pursuit of excellence and innovation  

LtCol Jay D. Borella, USMC - VPI 1993

Branch: U.S. Marine Corps

Bio: LtCol Borella graduated from Virginia Tech and the Corps of Cadets in 1993. Upon graduation he chose to pursue a life of service, commissioning into the Marine Corps through OCS. LtCol Borella spent 23 years  in the Marine Corps with 18 years in the cockpit of the AH-1W super cobra. During his time with the Marine Corps he served on both active duty and in the reserves. He was chosen as a weapons and tactics instructor, helping to build up the next generation of Marine aviators at the highest level. Throughout his career in the Marine Corps LtCol Borella received the Distinguished flying cross, the single strike air medal, and multiple air medal citations. After the Marine Corps, LtCol Borella went on to serve in the Department of Homeland Security as an Air Interdiction officer where he continues to work to this day. Having accrued over 7000 flight hours in 26 aircraft LtCol Borella remains humble as he continues to serve our country as a professional aviator. LtCol Borella perfectly embodies the ideals upon which the Aviation Wall of Fame was founded over two decades ago. As an aviator he is not only committed to the advancement of his field but also the concept of Ut Prosim. Constantly working to inspire and teach the next generation of aviators in the pursuit of excellence and innovation LtCol Borella is someone who can inspire us all. 

Commander Alex C. Rucker, USN (ret.) - VPI 1965

Branch: U.S. Navy

Bio: Commander Alex C. Rucker graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics. Upon graduation Commander Rucker earned his  commission into the Navy and attended the US Naval School of preflight before attending specialized training for his airframe, the F-8 Crusader. Commander Rucker completed three combat tours in Vietnam in the F-8 Crusader in support of operations Rolling Thunder and Linebacker II. During one of these tours in 1968, Commander Rucker assisted his wingman in a successful Mig-21 engagement. Later, Commander Rucker also served as a TOPGUN instructor of advanced air combat tactics in anticipation of the introduction of the F-14.