LTC Craig Alan Sands, USAF, (Ret)

Born: 10 May 1961 at Fort Meade, Maryland
Died: 30 March 2011

LTC Craig Alan Sands love of aviation began at a young age. Throughout his childhood his room was filled with various airplane models he had built. Beginning as a teenager, one of his favorite destinations was the National Air and Space Museum. He visited there often and spoke enthusiastically about the exhibits. In 1983, he graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Engineering and a commission as an officer in the United States Air Force. Over the next 23 years he served as a Weapons Systems Officer and Electronic Warfare Officer on the General Dynamics FB-111 and EF-111 aircraft.

LTC Sands duty stations included RAF Upper Heyford, England; Cannon AFB, New Mexico; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Aviano AB, Italy; Nellis AFB, Nevada; Osan AB, Korea and Eglin AFB, Florida. He flew missions in support of both Operations Deny Flight and Deliberate Force in the Bosnia/Herzegovina conflict. He also flew in Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch, patrolling the airspace over Iraq. In total, LTC Sands flew over 100 missions in support of these operations.

When not in flight LTC Sands continued his education and the education of others. He completed a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and served as president of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc Las Vegas Chapter.

On 1 June 2007 LTC Craig Sands retired from the US Air Force. He'd served 23 years, logging over 1800 hours of flight time in the F-111. He was awarded Master Navigator Wings in recognition of his experience and expertise. When asked what motivated him to spend nearly a quarter century in the Air Force, he replied, "I was living the dream!"

Submitted by The Siblings,
Clifton A. Sands Jr., C. Alexander Sands and Carol Sands Gambrill