Jerry L. Burton, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, joined the U.S. Air Force and was trained as a Jet Engine Mechanic. Assigned to Barksdale AFB, LA; Osan AB, Korea; Clark AB, Philippines; and George AFB, CA, he worked in-shop and flight line B-52, KC-135, and F-4G & RF-4C model aircraft.

Jerry then retrained into the Fixed Wing Flight Engineer career field and was assigned to McChord AFB, WA on the C-141B and later selected for special duty assignment to Andrews AFB, MD as a part of the 1st Airlift Squadron/89th Airlift Wing flying around on VC-137B/C (B-707) and VC-135 aircraft with our nation's leadership, including Vice President Al Gore and then First Lady Hilary Clinton. Jerry traveled to more than 100 cities on six continents.

After Jerry's Air Force retirement, he held jobs as an Airline Maintenance Training Supervisor, Flight Simulator Test Director, TSA Test Engineer, and part of the training team for FAA Radar Air Traffic Controllers.

Jerry first became a member of Tuskegee Airman Inc. (TAI) with the Sam Bruce Chapter in Washington State and then transferred membership to the East Coast Chapter (ECCTAI). Jerry served as the TAI Eastern Region Public Relations Officer; East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen Communications Director and Speakers Bureau Chair, which increases public awareness of the history of the Tuskegee Airmen and highlights the youth in aviation and scholarship programs of the East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Highlighted by two trips to the White House in a 3 week period for the movie release of "RED TAILS", Jerry handled the endless flow of speaking requests with speed, dependability, and good humor. His enthusiasm and impressive organizational abilities encourage documented original Tuskegee Airmen and members to attend events because they know their participation is vital to sharing the Tuskegee Airman legacy and keeping our nation's youth engaged in the future of aerospace.