Foil: 3 Panel: 2 Column: 4 Line: 97

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Pauline A. Mize

Drexel Dill Collins born Friday April 13, 1926, in Sullivan Missouri, married Marian Schmidt on December 23rd, 1949, father of Sherri and Bruce, grandfather of 4.
He served in the Navy during World War II from May 1944 - May 1946 on the battle cruiser Alaska CB1 in the pacific theater, maintaining ship radar systems.
In 1960, Drexel joined the FAA as an electronic technician, trained continuously at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City and was selected as one of twelve elite members tasked to develop and establish the Automated Air Traffic System, commissioned in 1973, at the New York Air Traffic Control Center. He retired from FAA service in 1986, and took a position at Punta Gorda, Florida as Airport Lighting Specialist, rebuilding and updating airport lighting and power systems.
In 1989, as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Commerce, he traveled to the Republic of China to design and gather data for an Air Traffic Control System. This project established the first ATC Center in China on the Island of Hianon, City of Sanyo. He returned to New York in 1993, and is currently working to rebuild and redevelop the Suffolk County Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach, Long Island. His service in developing critical worldwide ATC systems and dedication in redeveloping former military facilities has made invaluable contributions to the Aviation Community at Suffolk County FOK.