History 21 The Podcast - 4.09 Troy Woodruff

In this episode, MSgt USAF (retired) Troy Woodruff reminisces with ACHS Board Member Steve Florman about his time in service, including flying AWAC (Airborne Warning and Control System) planes with NATO forces. During his 20-plus year career, Troy participated in Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, the Cold War, the Yugoslavian conflict in the 1990s, the drug war, and missions over South Korea. To hear the entire conversation, become a History 21: The Vault member or visit the history center and request the interview recording.

Host Rebecca Desens, ACHS Director, Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Steve Florman, ACHS Vice President

Troy Woodruff received several accommodation during his career, including the NATO Medal for Service in relation to the former Yugoslavia.

AWACS, or Boeing E3 Sentry, provides all-weather surveillance, command, control, and communications. It’s known for its distinctive rotating radar dome (rotodome) above the fuselage. Production ended in 1992 after 68 aircraft had been built.

As a newly minted USAF aircrew, Troy started his flying career on an E-3B/C Sentry AWACS aircraft in the 964 AWACS squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, OK, as an Airborne Surveillance Technician. He then PCS’d to Germany and flew on the NATO E-3A AWACS for seven years as a Surveillance Operator. His final assignment and aircraft was an E-8C JSTARS aircraft with the 128th ACCS at Robbins Air Force Base, GA, where he was a Senior Director Technician. Throughout Troy’s career as an enlisted aviator, in addition to being a Surveillance Operator/Technician, he was also an Aircrew Instructor and an Aircrew Evaluator.

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