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LTC (Ret) John Langford, Jr.
John Langford graduated from Sherman High School in Sherman, Texas, and attended Arlington State College (ASC) during the school year 1952-53. He participated in the Corps of Cadets as a day student. The military skills and discipline he learned at ASC were invaluable to him when he transferred to Southern Methodist University and enrolled in their Air Force ROTC program. These same basic skills created motivation for a military career that lasted for the next 28 years.
Colonel Langford graduated from SMU in 1956 with a BA in History and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Upon entering the Air Force in 1957, he attended the Basic Navigators Course at Ellington AFB, Houston, Texas. Over the next several years he was involved with F89 and RB66 aircraft. In 1963 he was assigned as a navigator aboard C130’s flying out of Rhine Main AFB, Germany, until 1966.
Upon returning to the United States, he served as Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at Louisiana State University from 1966 until 1969. He then attended the Operations Training Course for the F4 Phantom at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona. After completion, he was assigned to an operational F4 squadron based at Korat RTAFB, Thailand. He flew 180 combat missions over Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam as a Weapons System Operator aboard the F4 Phantoms. During this period, he also served as Wing Briefing Officer and Top Secret Control Officer for the unit. Upon returning to the United States, he was an instructor and scheduling officer for F-4 training at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona, and Luke AFB in Phoenix. In 1974 he was assigned as Commander of an Air Force Recruiting Squadron at Bolling AFB in Washington, D.C., responsible for all Air Force recruiting in Maryland, Virginia, and the D.C. area until 1977. He served as Chief of Command Post, Osan AB, Korea in 1977 and Operations Staff Officer/Chief Command Post, AF Systems Command, Andrews AFB in 1977-81.
His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. He also has, among other awards, a Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.
Upon retiring from active military service in 1981, Colonel Langford established the first Air Force Junior ROTC Squadron in Montgomery County, Maryland. The unit was awarded the designation of Honor Unit in 1984.
Colonel Langford received his law degree from George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia, and practiced law in the District of Columbia and Maryland from 1985-92. He established his own firm, Langford and Associates, in 1992 and continued until retirement in 1998. His professional affiliations included the Maryland State Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, the Prince George’s County and American Bar Associations. He is also a member of the Air Force Association and the American Legion.
Colonel Langford currently resides in Granbury, Texas. He was married to Marie G. Langford who is deceased. His family includes four children (Mitchel, Kyle, Heather and Brett), and four grandchildren (Brent, Kelly, Brittany and Tyler). A fifth child, John III, is deceased.