This article features Christopher Wise, MSgt USAF (Ret.)
Christopher Wise, MSgt USAF (Ret.), joined the United States Air Force in 1985 out of Smyrna, Delaware, and served with distinction as a Special Mission Aviator until his retirement in 2005.
Early in his career, he was selected as one of the first five Airman Basics chosen to transition directly from high school into flight engineer school — a pioneering path that reflected the evolving future of the specialty. Over the course of his twenty-year military career, Wise logged more than 6,000 rotary-wing flight hours aboard the HH-3E, MH-60G, MH-53J, V-22, and UH-1N aircraft.
Throughout his service, his crews were credited with saving more than 75 lives during both search-and-rescue and combat SAR missions. While assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, he participated in the squadron’s first operational mission in over 50 years following the attacks of September 11, 2001. In the critical days that followed, his unit helped transport essential government officials out of harm’s way — a defining moment not only in his own career, but in the history of the United States Air Force. (Staff Sgt. Brooke Rogers)
Following his military retirement, Chris continued his commitment to service through consulting work focused on life safety and force protection. As a program manager with the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency (JPRA), he evaluated technologies designed to support personnel recovery operations and improve the wellbeing of deployed service members and their families.
Today, while still working with JPRA, Chris enjoys a quieter life at home on his 17-acre horse farm in Townsend, Delaware, with his wife, Elena. Together they share four children, three grandchildren, five horses, a dog, and a cat. He is also an active member of the Masonic Lodge, Nur Shrine Temple, Whitehall Neck Sportsman’s Club, and Dutch Neck Sportsman’s Club, and currently serves as President of Reins of Honor.
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