These words are taken from the retirement ceremony honoring him as written by his then commanding officer. Lieutenant Colonel John David Hill is the Deputy Director, 26 NORAD Region Operations Control Center, March Air Force Base, California. Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Colonel Hill graduated from Aquinas Institute. He later earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree and Masters Degree in Business Administration from National University, San Diego, California. Colonel Hill enlisted in the United States Air Force on 28 March 1952. On 16 February 1960 he received a direct appointment from Master Sergeant to First Lieutenant. After nearly 11 years in personnel, Colonel Hill entered the weapons controller field. After completing controller training, he was assigned to the NORAD Manual Control Center at Boca Chica Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida, from March 1963 until July 1965 where he was Weapons Assignment Officer and Public Information Officer. Assigned to Clark Air Base, Republic of Philippines in August 1965, he trained weapons controllers for the 5th Tactical Control Group until he was assigned to Dong Ha Air Base, Republic of Vietnam in November. In May 1966 he was reassigned to the Air Defense Control Center, 13th Air Force, Clark Air Base as Sector Controller. In September 1968, Colonel Hill was reassigned as an instructor at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, where he remained until being assigned as Installation Commander, Kume Shima Air Station, Ryukyu Islands in September 1971. After completing this remote assignment, Colonel Hill was reassigned to the 678th Air Defense Group, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, from September 1972 until July 1974 as Senior Director. Colonel Hill then became Commander at Mt Laguna Air Station, California, until January 1977 when he was assigned as Combat Crew Commander, 26th NORAD Region Control Center, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. In May 1979 he was assigned as a Sector Controller, NATO, Allied Sector Three Operations Center, Kindsbach, West Germany until August 1982. In September 1982, Colonel Hill returned to the 26th NORAD Region Control Center, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona as the Chief, Standardization/Evaluation Division. In April 1983 he was assigned to the 26th NORAD Region Operations Control Center, March Air Force Base, California. During this assignment Colonel Hill has been the Chief, Standardization Evaluation Division, Operations Officer and Deputy Director. A Master Weapons Controller, Colonel Hill's military decorations and awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Outstanding Unit award with four oak leaf clusters, the Combat Readiness Medal with six oak leaf clusters and the Good Conduct Medal. Colonel Hill is married to the former Virginia Jean Smith of Fairport, New York. They have three children, Carollee Ann, John David and Christopher William. Lieutenant Colonel Hill's retirement culminates a total of 33 years 4 months and 4 days in the Air Force.