From Flying Presidents to Teaching Students - Meet BRT's newest recruit Senior Master Sergeant Glenn Sparkman

What is it like to fly the President of the United States?  How big is Air Force One?  Where is the farthest you have flown?  Have you ever been shot down?  

These are just some of the questions that Senior Master Sergeant Glenn Sparkman gets asked by students (and adults) on a weekly basis. When SMSgt Sparkman was young, he never would have imagined that he would be able to answer any of these questions - he only knew that his dream was to fly! 

 

And fly, he did!  Not only for multiple mission in the US Air Force, but for Presidents of the United States and Hollywood stars. Now, SMSgt Sparkman has joined Blue Ridge Tours as our new Tour Educational Specialist to share his vast knowledge and many experiences with our school and students.

SMSgt Sparkman was born on August 3, 1962 in West Palm Beach, Florida.  As most boys do, he loved playing with cars and planes, and he dreamed of one day becoming a pilot.  Despite struggling in school and being diagnosed with a learning disability, he graduated from Tennessee High School in 1981. He then enlisted in the US Air Force in September 1982 to pursue his dream.

After basic training, SMSgt Sparkman was assigned to the Minuteman II missile and then to the 351st Strategic Missile Wing.  After completing C-141 aircraft flight engineer training in 1986, SMSgt Sparkman was assigned to the 76th Military Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, SC. During this time, SMSgt Sparkman was selected to represent the Wing as a member of the “Airlift Rodeo” airdrop competition team flying the C-141 aircraft. He also supported the Intermediate Nuclear Force (INF) treaty verification by flying missions to the Soviet Union. SMSgt Sparkman participated in Operations Golden Pheasant, Just Cause, Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

In 1992, SMSgt Sparkman was assigned to the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, McClellan AFB, CA to fly on the WC-135 aircraft. He flew on Polar (North Pole) missions collecting data vital to National Command Authorities and Operations American Express and Pony Express. He was selected for the initial cadre for the OC-135 aircraft which flew the “Open Skies” nuclear treaty verification mission. For the next year, he flew in the WC-135, the TC-135, the KC-135, and the OC-135 aircraft.

In 1995, SMSgt Sparkman was selected for special duty assignment with the 1st Military Airlift Squadron, Andrews AFB, MD. He quickly upgraded in the VC-137 and the VC-135 aircraft. He held positions in the squadron as the Superintendent of Training and Standards Evaluation. In 1997, he moved to the 89th Operations Group Standards Evaluation. During this assignment, he authored a flight crew information electronic distribution and tracking process and developed a basic flight engineer conversion course for the Wing’s flight mechanics. He was also selected as an augmenter to the Presidential aircrew flying Air Force One, the President’s aircraft.

In 2001, the Presidential Airlift Group was established, and SMSgt Sparkman became a full time crew member aboard Air Force One. At the Presidential Group, he held the position of Superintendent of the flight engineers and the Operational Risk Management Program for the unit.

During his career, SMSgt Sparkman accumulated over 7000 flying hours in eight different aircraft. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Aerial Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters.

 Because of family and teachers who believed in him and continue to push him toward his dream, education has always remained important to SMSgt Sparkman.  He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from National-Lewis University in 2003. His professional military education includes resident diplomas from the Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Prep School, the Military Airlift Command NCO Academy, and the Air Force Senior NCO Academy.

 

After retiring from the Air Force in 2005 after 23 years of service, SMSgt Sparkman began his new career as an Aerospace Science Instructor at James F. Byrnes High School in Duncan, SC.  Teaching, sharing his love of learning, and connecting with students became his passion. In 2007, he was awarded the Air Force Junior ROTC Outstanding Instructor Award, which is only given to approximately 20 JROTC instructors in the country.

SMSgt Spearman is not only a great educator, but he is a true storyteller.  Hearing him weave a story of flying four Presidents together aboard Air Force One with another tale of flying a diplomatic envoy leaves you on the edge of your seat as you wonder what is next.  How exciting for Blue Ridge Tours to be able to offer this great storyteller and guide to our schools.