Ronald Lee Hodgen was born July 25, 1941, to Noble and Eleanor Hodgen in Frankfort, Clinton County, Indiana. He graduated from Rossville High School, Rossville, Indiana
in 1959. On February 28, 1962, Ron enlisted in the United States Air Force. After attending basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, he was selected for language school at Indiana University where he began his studies as a Russian linguist. While at Indiana University, he met Ellen Epperson. They were married on March 8, 1963. In May of 1963, Ron was transferred to Goodfellow Air Force Base where he began radio intercept training. For the next two months, he would learn radio intercept techniques. His training took him and Ellen to Berlin, Germany where he served for 14 months at the 6912th Security Squadron, Berlin, Germany. In November 1964 he was transferred to the 49th Tactical Fighter/Bomber Wing, Spangdahlem AFB, Germany. While living in Germany, the couple welcomed two sons, Gregory Ralph and Scott Richard. In 1966, the family was transferred back stateside to Tyndall AFB, Panama City, Florida. While at Tyndall AFB, Jordan Christopher was born and subsequently died in infancy from double pneumonia. The family remained in Panama City until 1969 when Ron was assigned to Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama as a student in the Airman’s Education and Commissioning Program. During this time, the family welcomed their fourth son, Ronald Kyle. Ron graduated from Auburn University in the spring of 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. He was sent back to Lackland AFB to attend Officer Training School. Upon completion he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. His first assignment after OTS was to the 20th Surveillance Squadron, Florida as a Space Object Identification (SOI) engineer. Ron was then sent to the 16th Surveillance Squadron, Shemya AFB, Alaska in the Aleutian Islands in July of 1972 as an SOI engineer. After this assignment, Ron rejoined his family at Eglin AFB for a return to the 20th Surveillance Squadron as a systems software engineer, and Ellen was a teacher at a local area school. During this time, the family bought their first Arabian horses that led to a successful venture breeding, training and showing. In December 1977, Ron reported to Aerospace Defense Command Headquarters, Colorado Springs, CO where he served as a systems engineer on two new space defense radars as they were incorporated into a space detection and warning system, in the NORAD Cheyenne Mountain Complex where new computers were incorporated, and in the Systems Integration Office to accomplish an end‐to‐end test of the National Military Warning Network. In 1982, Ron retired from the United States Air Force as a Captain after 20 years of military service. Shortly after retirement in 1984, Ron and Ellen welcomed a daughter, Rebecca Ellen, into their family. For the next 34+ years, Ron supported a number of military systems, both Air Force and Army Aviation. In over 54 years of government service, Ron enjoyed collaborating with men and women who not only enriched his military and government service, but many who became life‐long friends to Ron and Ellen. Today they reside in Somerville, Alabama and enjoy serving in their local church and attending Auburn games.