Retiree News

James Michael Doolin is a success story, a reflection of his personal drive and determination in life.

In the 1980s, he enlisted in the Hawai‘i Air National Guard after a tour with the United States Marine Corps. Mike became the frequency manager at the Headquarters, 201^st Combat Communications Group. He graduated number one in his frequency management course – a multi-service, joint officer-enlisted course. Upon his return from school, he subsequently became the frequency manager at United State Pacific Command (PACOM) as a civil service employee.

After serving as the 201 CCG’s frequency manager for a few years, he graduated from officer school and became a second lieutenant. Mike served in positions within the Headquarters and the 293^rd Combat Communications Squadron.

Shortly thereafter, his civil service career took him to Scott AFB, Illinois. He eventually became a member of the Air Force Reserve at Scott.

His email to Retiree News describes the rest of his story.

I was trying to connect with you on Linked In recently. Thinking of my Hawai‘i Air Guard brothers and sisters a lot lately. I retired from civil service last fall as Director of Communications, 72 Air Base Wing, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. A Group-level Director job leading a 450 person Directorate of civilians and contractors supporting the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, and 45 tenant organizations, including the 3rd Herd and the 38 EIG.

Ironically, the 3rd, the 201st, and I retired at about the same time last year.  I was Director of Communications at Tinker for 3.5 years following an opportunity to attend Air War College, graduating in May 2010 at Maxwell AFB, Mississippi.

Since my retirement from civil service, I’ve been on full-time orders as Chief, Cyber Plans, J3Y, Joint Cyber Center atUnited States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), Scott AFB, Illinois.  I was fortunate to be promoted to Colonel July 1 in the USAFR. Maj Gen Mike Kim, Commander, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, officiated at my promotion ceremony on July 12 at  USTRANSCOM. My Hawai‘i brothers and sisters were heavy in my thoughts and heart that day.

Gen Kim has a Hawai‘i connection. His father is retired military and lives in Kāne‘ohe, no more than a couple of miles from where we lived in the Haiku area. He reminds me of my special time in the Hawai‘i Air Guard.Hawai‘i will always be home for me and my family. My family continues to do well and our children have excelled.

I was looking back at old OPRs this past week and was reminded of how much Col Jeff Okazaki did for me, sponsoring my commission opportunity, along with folks like you, and many others like Brig Gen Kathy Berg, Barry Castellano, and Jiro Arakaki, all positively influencing my career path.  Senior NCOs like Elmer Looney, Walt Furuyama, Norm Uyechi, Roy Yamasaki, and many more…helped make me look better than I was along the way.

So many tremendous memories for me that I could go on and on…  If there is an opportunity to work once more in Hawai‘i I would love the chance to do so. Not sure how many more years I’ll work, now 57. In October, Joni and I are meeting up with our Hawai‘i family (Al and Cy Young, and Joni’s sisters Lori and Kelly) in San Francisco.  Then, in November we will join them for a trip to Japan.

Please pass my Aloha to all. 

Mike Doolin, 293rd CCS and 201st CCG alumni.

BTW: Mike’s father-in-law is Al Young, the former First Sergeant of the then 154^th Supply Squadron.

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