J
came to the Academy from Lakewood, Ohio along with thirty others from
the "Buckeye" state. He was the first appointment to USAFA
in the history of Lakewood St. Edward’s High and had to go home
and bring the appointment letter back to the principal. He spent his
first two years in 5th Squadron (famous for the moon over Western Sky)
before joining "Seagram's Seven" for his last two years during
which the Squadron started a string of Best Athlete’s Intramural
awards anchored by the Lacrosse championship. Following graduation,
J went to Reese AFB TX for pilot training along with many of his classmates
that were in UPT Class 70-01. While at pilot training, J met Lynn, a
senior in the elementary education program student at Texas Tech University
whose father told her to stay away from those pilots at Reese. Coming
out of UPT, J chose the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron,as a Forward
AirController flying the 0-2 Skymaster (Suck & Blow) out of NhaTrang,
Plieku and PhanRang Air Bases in Vietnam - earning the Distinguished
Flying Cross and seven Air Medals. Soon, after returning stateside,
J and Lynn were married in the Academy Chapel in 1970.
After
the first Vietnam tour, J and his bride were sent to Barksdale AFB,
Louisiana. J was assigned as a B-52G pilot in the 596th Bomb Squadron
and was scrambled to Vietnam Jimmy Steward style in 1972, flying Arc
Light missions and participating in operations over the entire region
from Anderson AFB, Guam. Combined with his tour as a FAC, J flew over
350 combat sorties during the two tours, one long one short. At the
same time, Lynn was very busy as a Louisiana elementary teacher in Bossier
City where son Brady was born.
J completed his military service in 1973 working on the staff of 2nd
Air Force Commander Gen David Jones and then as civilians moved to Washington
D.C. to complete studies at George Washington University National Law
Center, earning his JD degree.
While at night law school, J began a new career in the automotive world
when he became employed as an economist at the National Auto Dealers
Association (NADA) in Washington DC. At NADA, J served at various staff
levels, starting consulting and operational training businesses and
ultimately being appointed as the Vice President of NADA.
In 1988,
he moved to Westlake Village CA and joined a small company JD Power
and Associates as a partner. Later as a senior partner he was managing
director of their joint venture in Tokyo. J is very pleased that during
his tenure at JD Powers and Associates his initiatives were responsible
for branding JD Power and its studies and global CSI services making
them a "household names". He was recruited to PriceWaterhouseCoopers
as a Partner in Automotive Consulting and later Senior Partner Automotive
Leader Americas. After those years of global consulting he retired in
2007, J still keeps going in the automotive world as a consultant running
think tanks, writing and heading a 30 judge team that identifies the
most innovative products and process globally for annual “Academy
Awards", the Automotive
News PACE Awards.
While J was busy trekking the automotive world, Lynn continued her vocation,
teaching both second and fourth graders, while being a Mom to Brady
and Kevin. From volunteering at her kid's preschool in Virginia, serving
three terms on her sons' high school fundraising board in California
and then serving on multiple charitable committees in Michigan, Lynn
quickly found ways to contribute and make new friends.
Both J and Lynn remain committed to fund raising and supporting charitable
organizations in their community including supporting entrepreneurship
efforts in inner city schools. They travel for fun and to spend time
vacationing with their children and grandchildren. Son Brady and wife
Meg live near Boulder, CO and have 3 children, Cullen, Quinn and Maren.
Their son Kevin and wife Elke live near San Francisco and have a daughter,
Kiley.
J remains very connected to the Academy and his 1968 Classmates, and
his UPT Reunions. He was an original member of the Sabre Society. Now
with more time available, the Ferron's not only have the opportunity
to spoil their grandchildren, travel to Ireland and other non-Irish
parts of the world. Lynn and J know that friendships are forever from
USAFA to flying and business friends so they can often be seen with
other '68'ers.
Click
on thumbnails for larger images.
J
and Lynn, Thanks for sharing - we're proud of you!
J
came to the Academy from Lakewood, Ohio along with thirty others from
the "Buckeye" state. He was the first appointment to USAFA
in the history of Lakewood St. Edward’s High and had to go home
and bring the appointment letter back to the principal. He spent his
first two years in 5th Squadron (famous for the moon over Western Sky)
before joining "Seagram's Seven" for his last two years during
which the Squadron started a string of Best Athlete’s Intramural
awards anchored by the Lacrosse championship. Following graduation,
J went to Reese AFB TX for pilot training along with many of his classmates
that were in UPT Class 70-01. While at pilot training, J met Lynn, a
senior in the elementary education program student at Texas Tech University
whose father told her to stay away from those pilots at Reese.
Coming
out of UPT, J chose the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron,as a Forward
AirController flying the 0-2 Skymaster (Suck & Blow) out of NhaTrang,
Plieku and PhanRang Air Bases in Vietnam - earning the Distinguished
Flying Cross and seven Air Medals. Soon, after returning stateside,
J and Lynn were married in the Academy Chapel in 1970.
After
the first Vietnam tour, J and his bride were sent to Barksdale AFB,
Louisiana. J was assigned as a B-52G pilot in the 596th Bomb Squadron
and was scrambled to Vietnam Jimmy Steward style in 1972, flying Arc
Light missions and participating in operations over the entire region
from Anderson AFB, Guam. Combined with his tour as a FAC, J flew over
350 combat sorties during the two tours, one long one short. At the
same time, Lynn was very busy as a Louisiana elementary teacher in Bossier
City where son Brady was born.
While at night law school, J began a new career in the automotive world
when he became employed as an economist at the National Auto Dealers
Association (NADA) in Washington DC. At NADA, J served at various staff
levels, starting consulting and operational training businesses and
ultimately being appointed as the Vice President of NADA.
In 1988,
he moved to Westlake Village CA and joined a small company JD Power
and Associates as a partner. Later as a senior partner he was managing
director of their joint venture in Tokyo. J is very pleased that during
his tenure at JD Powers and Associates his initiatives were responsible
for branding JD Power and its studies and global CSI services making
them a "household names". He was recruited to PriceWaterhouseCoopers
as a Partner in Automotive Consulting and later Senior Partner Automotive
Leader Americas. After those years of global consulting he retired in
2007, J still keeps going in the automotive world as a consultant running
think tanks, writing and heading a 30 judge team that identifies the
most innovative products and process globally for annual “Academy
Awards", the 
