Chuck Tarantola

Joined the Air Force in 1974. Traveled around the world for 22 years before retiring from active duty in Melbourne Florida. The Air Force saved my life and presented opportunities that I never could have imagined. When I retired from active duty I was a crew member on a Launch Control Team at Cape Canaveral AFS and worked 11 Shuttle Launches, 6 Titan Launches, 9 Delta launches and 7 Atlas launches. I was lucky enough to retire in 1996 without ever having to say "We are No-Go for launch".....a definite career killer. After I retired I missed being a part of the Space Program and was hired by the Air Force as a Program Manager of Launch Operations. Now happily retired again………….:) .

I was known as "Long Hair", "Oldhead" and "Chuckles" during my high school days

I certainly didn't graduate at the top of the class.....but I graduated. I think I only lived in the Palmyra High School district for a total of 1 year.... yet I spent almost all four years at PHS. I would hitchhike to school from Edgewater Park, Riverside, Cinnaminson and Cherry Hill. I thought I was being sly until Mr Ionnuchi picked me up hitchhiking to school on Fork Landing Road. I explained my "situation" to him but I was sure that I'd be expelled from PHS with nowhere to go. Instead, he told me that if I found my way to school everyday that he would ensure that I graduated. I was a sophomore then, I can't remember missing too many days because PHS was where my friends were.....and the guy that gave me a chance.....Thank You Mr Ionnuchi.
A few years later I obtained a Bachelors degree from the University of Maryland and Masters Degree from Webster University