Staff Profile - Colonel Benjamin C. Pittman, Jr.

Colonel Benjamin (Ben) C. Pittman, Jr. is the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor at Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, South Carolina.

Colonel Pittman was born in Gastonia, North Carolina. He graduated from. D.W. Daniel High School in Clemson, South Carolina and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Clemson University. While at Clemson he was a feature writer for the Clemson University newspaper, The Tiger, and he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Colonel Pittman earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Troy University in 1977. His Air Force professional education includes resident diplomas from Squadron Officers College, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the Air War College.

Colonel Pittman received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Clemson University. He initially served as an Airborne Electronics Maintenance Officer at Travis Air Force Base in California. Colonel Pittman then completed navigator and bombardier training at Mather Air Force Base, California with a subsequent flying assignment in the B-52 bomber at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan. After initial qualification in the B-52, Colonel Pittman’s crew deployed to Southeast Asia in support of the Vietnam conflict. Flying out of Thailand and Guam, he completed two “Arc Light” tours in the B-52D, logging nearly 400 combat hours over North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

After returning from Southeast Asia, Colonel Pittman was assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He served as the Wing Commander’s Executive Officer and flew as a crewmember on AC-130 “Gunship” aircraft. Colonel Pittman was named the Wing’s “Junior Officer of the Year” in 1977 for his contributions to the Wing’s mission.

Following his assignment in Florida, Colonel Pittman served for three years at the United States Air Force Academy as a faculty member and as Commander of Cadet Squadron 34. As an academic Course Director in the Aviation Science Department, he developed the curriculum for an aerospace science course that was a graduation requirement for all Academy cadets. As a Squadron Commander, Colonel Pittman was responsible for the academic, military, and athletic development of 110 officer candidates. While at the Academy, Colonel Pittman completed the United States Army’s Airborne Infantry Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. He is a qualified parachutist as well as aviator.

After the Academy assignment, Colonel Pittman attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. This multi-service school prepared officers for world-wide operations with other military forces. After graduation, he returned to flying duties at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam. He was assigned to the WC-130 aircraft with the “Typhoon Chasers” of the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. During this assignment, he completed 29 flights into the “eye” of fully developed typhoons (hurricanes). Four missions were into the eye of Super Typhoon Bess. Colonel Pittman was awarded two Air Medals for this extremely hazardous flying mission.

After returning to the United States, Colonel Pittman was assigned to Air Force Headquarters in the Pentagon as Executive Officer for the three-star Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. Later he was selected to serve as the Military Assistant to the Senior Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, the second-highest ranking individual in the United States Air Force. As Military Assistant to a Presidential appointee, Colonel Pittman routinely interfaced with Congressional staff members. He was instrumental in the preparation of legislation affecting over 4 million active duty and retired Air Force personnel. He also interfaced with Department of Defense officials on all Air Force programs included in a $30 billion wartime readiness budget.

Following his five-year Washington tour, Colonel Pittman served as the Pentagon’s Research Fellow with the Airpower Research Institute at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. His work on air base survivability received the Air Force Historical Foundation’s “Cannell” award as the most outstanding research publication in 1988.

Colonel Pittman graduated from the Air War College, the senior Air Force military college, with the Class of 1989 then remained at Maxwell Air Force Base as the Director of Public Affairs for Air University, an Air Force Major Command. He interfaced with local civic, business, political leaders, and the media to promote the programs of two military colleges, ten professional education schools, and two degree-granting institutions. Colonel Pittman was also heavily involved with civic organizations while assigned to this position. He graduated with Class IX of Leadership Montgomery and later served on their Board of Directors. He was named to the Board of the Montgomery Arts Council, and he also served on the Economic Development Committee of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Kiwanis International and supported numerous community service activities.

During his career, Colonel Pittman accumulated 2,000 flying hours in the B-52, AC-130, WC-130 and T-43 aircraft. He is authorized to wear Senior Navigator Wings, U.S. Army Parachutist Wings, the Missileman Badge, the Headquarters USAF (Pentagon) Badge, the Commander’s Badge, and the Air Force Junior ROTC Instructor Badge. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

Colonel Pittman retired from active duty on March 31, 1993. He is married to Linda Tucker Pittman from Greenville. He has two sons, Tanner and Trevor, both Clemson University graduates. Tanner is a lawyer in LaGrange, Georgia, and Trevor is an Assistant Director in the Office of Orientation Programs at Indiana University where he completed a Masters degree in Higher Education. Colonel Pittman is a member of Rotary International, the Air Force Association, the Military Officers Association of America, and the Military Order of the World Wars. His hobbies include golf, military history, cooking, and racquetball.