Foil: 9 Panel: 2 Column: 1 Line: 9

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Col. David H. Pinsky (Ret.)

Colonel Dave Pinsky

Commissioned: October 2, 1961 through ROTC at Rutgers University

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Rutgers University, New Jersey; Masters Degree in education from Boston University; Masters Degree in Public Administration from Sonoma State University

Professional Military Education: Squadron Officers School, Armed Forces Staff College, and Air War College

Colonel Pinsky began his career as a flight instructor in the Air Training Command. He volunteered for Vietnam in 1965, flew 614 combat missions as a Forward Air Controller and was awarded two Silver Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, 26 Air Medals and two purple Hearts. He was in the F-106 program for seven years, as a pilot, instructor pilot, flight examiner and Squadron Commander. He served three years on the NATO staff in Europe and three years at Air Force Headquarters and on the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington. He was the Deputy Commander for Operations of the FB-111 wings at Plattsburgh AFB, New York and Pease AFB, New Hampshire.

Colonel Pinsky was Vice Wing Commander, then Wing Commander, of the Air Force’s only SR-71 and U-2 equipped wing, the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, California from June of 1983 until July 1987.

A command pilot, he has flown over 6,500 hours in the SR-71, U-2, F-106, F-102, FB-111, T-38, T-33, T-37, T-29, KC-135 and O-1 aircraft, including over 1,000 hours of Combat Time.

Decorations: Legion of Merit, Silver Star with one Oak Leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf cluster, the Air Medal with 26 Oak Leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation medal with one Oak Leaf cluster, the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf cluster and the Vietnam Gallantry Crosses with Palm and Silver Star.

Colonel Pinsky is married to the former Betty Roberts. He has two sons, Bruce and Brian (who is in the Air Force Reserves and just returned safely from a tour of duty in Iraq).

Colonel Pinsky came to Santa Rosa in 1987 and has been the Deputy Director of Utilities for the City of Santa Rosa from then to the present time. He is a leadership Santa Rosa graduate and is very active in community and civic affairs, having served on the Board and as President of Santa Rosa’s Rose Parade for five years, as well as on numerous other non-profit agency boards.

In October 2005, Colonel Pinsky became the Executive Director of the Pacific Coast Air Museum, located at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, California.