Asa Matlack Stackhouse was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and grew up just across the Delaware River in Moorestown, New Jersey, where he attended the same Quaker School that his family had for generations. Asa had a quick mind and delighted in adventurous experiences. He learned to fly a Piper Cub during his high school years.
After attending Cornell University to study engineering, he changed course and joined the Air Force in 1961 for the opportunity to fly, travel, and perhaps later become a commercial pilot. He attended Navigator Training in Waco, Texas in 1961-1962. In the process he flew in a number of planes including the T-29, TC-54, C-123, C-124, C-119, C-97, C-47 and KC-135. He was then sent to train as an Electronic Warfare Officer in Sacramento, California. After that, he volunteered for further training as a Defensive Systems Operator on the Strategic Air Command's B-58. The B-58, built by Convair, was cutting edge technology at that time. In the B-58, he flew at Mach 2- multiple times.
After serving several years as DSO on the B-58, he still wanted to be a pilot. He continued training on several planes, including the Cessna T-41 single engine propeller plane, the Cessna T-37 twin engine jet, and the supersonic Northrup T-38 Talon. He received his pilot wings in 1968 and began a long career flying the C-130 Hercules transport plane and its variants. He served over 20 years in the Air Force, with tours around the world, including several in Viet Nam. He flew many missions supportingthe famous battle of Khe Sanh. Asa received multiple service awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. He retired with the rank of Major from the Air Force in 1984. Subsequently, he went to work for Southern Air Transport for 10 years flying C-130s on humanitarian relief missions. He retired from flying in 1994.
Asa completed his MBA degree at the University of West Florida. He was committed to public service and went on to work for the United States government once again when he joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He used his prior work experience, including his knowledge of logistics combined with his finance skills, to assist with disaster relief efforts, notably following the terrorist attack of 9/11, and weather disasters Hurricane Katrina and Super Storm Sandy. In addition to a love for flying, he is remembered for his service to his country and to others, and the importance he placed on maintaining connections with those he came to know during his lifetime.