David Poe  Class of 1986

 

     David Poe graduated from Goshen High School in 1986. He also enlisted that year in the Ohio Army National Guard, where he eventually was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. David enrolled at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, and began his studies there in the spring of 1987. He graduated cum laude from Ohio University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. In June 1990, he married his wife Christine Peake of Springfield, Ohio.

     In 1991, David was hired as a math teacher at Goshen High School. Over the next four years, he taught an array of classes, including a new math course for upper class students needing to pass the state proficiency test. He had a 100% success rate for those students in meeting their diploma requirement.

    David left teaching in 1995 and joined the United States Air Force. He completed Officer Training School as a Distinguished Graduate and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant, then proceeded to his first assignment at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. While there, Lieutenant Poe directed teams of technicians installing information technology infrastructures at locations around the world. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1997.

    In 1998, Lieutenant Poe moved to Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nevada. He was promoted to Captain in 1999. While in Las Vegas, he served as the executive officer to the commandant of the US Air Force Fighter Weapons School. He also served as the multimedia coordinator in the base communications squadron, providing photo and video support to units including the Thunderbirds and the Red Flag war game training center. He supported several Hollywood producers on their documentaries showcasing US Air Force firepower and combat capabilities. His video team also shot the analysis video for the first ever Air Force test firing of a Hellfire missile from a Predator unmanned aircraft.

    Following his Las Vegas tour, in 2001 Captain Poe was assigned to Osan Air Base, South Korea, on a 1-year remote assignment. While his family remained in Las Vegas, Captain Poe served as a satellite communications team leader, providing data and communications links to Air Force liaison teams supporting US Army divisions and brigades with close air support missions. As with all military units, his team went to high alert following the attacks of 9-11; he established communications links for US Air Force fighter squadrons that deployed to Korea to provide additional combat capability in the region as the US military prepared for the Afghanistan invasion.

   After his year in Korea, in 2002 Captain Poe moved to Hickam Air Force Base, Honolulu, Hawaii. There he served on a small team that managed a four billion dollar budget for the Pacific Air Forces 4-star commanding general. Later, while serving as the executive officer to the 1-star director of strategic planning, he deployed Airmen to support US relief efforts in the aftermath of the tsunami that devastated Indonesia in December 2004.

    In 2005, Captain Poe was assigned to the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He was promoted to Major in 2006. While at the Pentagon, he directed programs that modernized the Air Force’s information technology infrastructure, and implemented new policies for data management to bring the Air Force in line with the most current technologies practiced in the IT industry. He left the Air Force in 2008 and returned to the great State of Ohio.

    David’s military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, and US Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon. He’s also served as a Cub Scout den leader and Little League baseball coach.

    David is now a federal civilian employee of the Defense Logistics Agency in Columbus, Ohio. His wife Christy is a nursing student at Central Ohio Technical College. His son David is an honor student, baseball player and golfer at Bloom-Carroll High School. His son Jacob is an honor student, spelling bee champion and wrestler at Bloom-Carroll Middle School.

 

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