Maj. Gen. Michael Edwards, the adjutant general of the Colorado National Guard who served in the Air Force for nearly half a century, is retiring, The Gazette reported Sunday.
The newspaper reported that Edwards put on his uniform for the final time on Friday.
Edwards entered the Air Force Academy in 1969 but never thought he would stay with the military for such a long time, according to the newspaper.
After graduation, Edwards landed his dream job — flying the F-4 Phantom, the most advanced fighter at the time. After seven years of active duty, flying F-4s around the world, Edwards moved to the Colorado National Guard, a position that allowed him to continue flying while also spending time with his family.
Gradually, Edwards gained more rank, becoming the commander of a squadron of F-16 fighters at Buckley Air Force Base in 1995, taking the helm of the 140th Fighter Wing in 2002, and being promoted to brigadier general where he was assigned to the Combined Air Operations Center in Qatar in 2003.
The Nebraska-born fighter pilot-turned-diplomat recalled how he used to dream of life above the clouds.
“Something clicked with me when I was just a little kid,” he said. “I’d hang those [model] fighters up by a thumb tack in my bedroom and be staring at them as I went to sleep.”
Edwards plans to stay active in Guard issues after retirement, but he says learning how to be a full-time civilian will be an adventure that is “more exciting than bittersweet.”
Colorado Guard’s adjutant general retires after almost 50 years in uniform
