Alumni Spotlight

U.S. Air Force Captain Larry Needham III, a 1994 graduate of Vicksburg High School is assigned to the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing at the Kabul International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, finishing up one-year deployment as a pilot advisor to the Afghan National Army Air Corps.

His wing is responsible for developing, training and mentoring the Kabul Air Wing and the Air Corps’ Air University, with the ultimate goal of having the Afghans be ready to independently operate their Air Corps by 2016.

Ready for takeoff: Capt. Larry Needham, of Kalamazoo, right, a C-27J Spartan pilot assigned to the 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, goes over pre-flight checklist items with Capt. Mohammad-Shah Ahmadzai, an Afghanistan National Army Air Corps C-27J pilot, prior to takeoff for an operational mission on May 15 at Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez.)

Thanks in large part to Needham, a Vicksburg High grad who holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Texas at San Antonio, the wing is on schedule in completing that task.

Since Needham’s arrival in April 2010, he has been instrumental in helping the Afghan's double their Mi-17 fleet, re-energize their Mi-35 gunship program and bed-down their first-ever Western-designed aircraft — the C-27 Spartan. The C-27 is well suited for the hard terrain of Afghanistan because it permits airmen to bring supplies and munitions into trouble spots where the larger C-130J Hercules might have difficulty operating.

"I feel very blessed for the opportunity to be part of such a unique opportunity," Needham said in a prepared statement. "I am continually amazed at the approachability and humility of many of my Afghan counterparts. In only a month, I have already formed friendships that will remain well after I have left."

Needham is permanently assigned to the 85th Flying Training Squadron as the assistant director of operations at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas. He and his wife, Kristy, have three sons, Ezekiel, Caleb and Tobias, all under age 10.

Read about other VHS Alumni:

• Larry Needham (Class of 1994)
• Megan Pool (Class of 2007)
• Diane Rambow Stevens (Class of 1960)
• Evan and Margot (Gilding) Shick (Class of 1952)
• Mason Bishop (Class of 34)
• Tom and Sandy (Miller) Reece (Class of 60)
• Nancy (Brown) Decker (Class of 54)
• Larry & Tina (Schneider) Forsyth (Class of 68 & 69)
• Betsy Bailey (Class of 1998)
• Gwen Sherman (Class of 1957)
• Stephen G. Kukolich (Class of 1958)

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