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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Leader

Honored by:
Ms. Nina Campanicki

Colonel Norman Runge was born January 10, 1934 in Omaha, Nebraska, he passed away on June 20, 2006. He served his country in the United States Air Force for 35 years, where he completed 3 tours of duty in Korea and Vietnam. Colonel Runge began his military career as an enlisted aircraft mechanic on the T-28 aircraft. He was later accepted into Flight School as an Aviation Cadet where he flew the PA-18, T-6, T-28 and B-25 aircraft. Throughout his illustrious career, Colonel Runge flew C-119s, C-54s, C-47s, B-29s, C-124s, T-39s, and the AN-28 aircraft. He then trained as an air traffic control officer and served at various locations across the globe for 14 years managing air traffic control facilities and developing new air traffic control safety procedures. Colonel Runge spent the later parts of his Air Force career as the Director of Intelligence for Panama and with the Defense Intelligence Agency as the Director of Intelligence Dissemination. Colonel Runge was a graduate of both the Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College. He also served as an instructor at the Air Command and Staff College.
Colonel Runge received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska in 1968; a Masters degree in Political Science from Auburn in 1970; and a Masters degree in Education from Troy State University in 1973.
After his retirement with the United State Air Force, Colonel Runge was hired by Wilmington College in New Castle, Delaware to run the college's aviation programs. He taught classes in aviation history, safety, government regulation, air traffic control, and air transportation systems as well as many other related subjects. He went on to earn a doctorate of philosophy (PhD) in Political Science and Public Policy from the University of Delaware in 1995.
Dr. Runge made significant contributions to the field of aviation throughout his life but it was as a college professor that he was able to develop our future aviation leaders. Dr. Runge's former students have gone on to successful careers in corporate, commercial and military aviation. He implemented the Focus on Aviation program to expose high school students and others to careers in aviation. Dr. Runge traveled to many inner-city schools throughout Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to teach young adults about the exciting opportunities in aviation. He was a staunch believer in giving all young adults an opportunity to learn and succeed if they were willing to put forth the effort. Dr Runge served on numerous boards to further aviation including, the Delaware Pilots Association, President of the Air Force Association's General Bill Spruance Chapter, and he served on the Board of the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame from 2003 until the time of his death.
Dr. Runge's significant contributions to aviation will continue through those that he taught, and those that he touched.