#VeteranOfTheDay Tom Conkright

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran Tom Conkright. Tom served during the Cold War.

Tom was born in Topeka, Kansas, and graduated college with a teaching degree. He was married with one child and another one on the way when he realized he couldn’t survive on a teacher’s paycheck. He met with an Air Force recruiter and with his sights set on becoming a navigator, Tom enlisted.

Soon, he learned he couldn’t become a navigator due to his vision and accepted a position in Air Force intelligence instead. As an intelligence officer, Tom learned to collect, interpret and document intelligence information, including how to analyze photographs of potential threats.

After training, Tom found himself in France until the French President, Charles de Gaulle, ordered all troops from foreign nations to leave the country in 1966. Tom was then sent to Germany. At a base near the Air Force’s European headquarters he searched for enemy radar as part of an electronic intelligence unit.

While he served in the Air Force, Tom earned a master’s degree in education. After he left the service, he returned to teaching, workinas a history teacher in Kansas City for one year before going back to school to earn his doctorate degree in international education at the University of Illinois.

Tom went on to work in computer-based education.

Thank you for your service, Tom!

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? You’re in luck! VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much of the information as you can put together with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating for how to create the best submission.

Graphic By Kierra Willis: Kierra Willis is a Graphic Communication Major at the University of Maryland University College. She currently has an AAS in Graphic Design and Visual Communications.