Kenneth M. Bidlake, a native of Bedford, Ohio, grew up fascinated by the frequent skywriting airplanes and other planes flying over an airway beacon near his house. Following his 1964 graduation from The Ohio State University he began Navy flight training in Pensacola, Florida. He was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1966.

Following flight training he was assigned as a P-3B pilot in VP-26 (Tridents) at NAS Brunswick, Maine. The first deployment was to Sangley Point, Philippines and U-Tapao, Thailand where he flew Yankee Station surveillance support and Operation Market Time patrols in the Vietnam War. Subsequent deployments were to Rota, Spain; Lajes, Azores; and Keflavik, Iceland.

He then had a rewarding tour as a P-3A/B/C instructor pilot in VP-31 at NAS Moffett Field, California. This was followed by a P3C operational tour with VP-50 (Blue Dragons), also at NAS Moffett Field. This included deployments to NAS Agana, Guam; and NAS Adak, Alaska.

Subsequent tours in the Navy included Naval War College and the Navy Pentagon staff. During his tour with the Carrier Group Eight, he was deployed aboard USS Independence (CV-62) for Indian Ocean operations during the Iranian Hostage crisis. His final tour was with the Naval Material Command, from which he retired in 1985.

Career awards include: the Meritorious Service Medal, an Air Medal with 2 Strike-Flight awards, 2 Navy Unit Commendation awards, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation award.

Following his naval service he continued his career working for several companies that provided support for Navy major acquisition programs.