Honoring All Who Served

Save the Date:  November 18, 2026
Free Lunch for those who RSVP 
Click HERE for lunch ticket.

Biography:
Bob Gast is a retired US Air Force officer and defense programs manager. He graduated The Ohio State University in 1970 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineer and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the USAF. He graduated from pilot training one year later and was assigned as an instructor pilot in the T-38 Talon at the 3550th Pilot Training Wing, Moody AFB, GA. Later, he served as a pilot flying tactical and strategic airlift in C-130E, C-124C and C/UC-123K aircraft.

While serving as a flight test engineer with the 4950th Test Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH he was the technical mission planner and Officer in Charge (OIC) of the technical crew on the EC-135N Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft. This aircraft supported the US space program by receiving, recording, processing and relaying in real time the telemetry information from launch vehicles and spacecraft during their launch and orbital insertion operations. Following this assignment, he served for a short time as an engineer and program manager for the development of advanced flight simulator visual systems.

At this time, he earned the Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Dayton. In 1982 he was assigned as a test and integration engineer on the USAF U-2/TR-1 program which involved development and integration of advanced sensor capabilities on the U-2R aircraft. He then assumed program management of the advanced ground processing station for the U-2R which generated and rapidly communicated intelligence reports resulting from information collected by this high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. Later, he was named the System Program Director for the entire U-2R acquisition program, which at that time was the number two program in the USAF ranking just behind the development of the F-22 fighter. Bob served as an engineer and intelligence support officer assigned to the 6940th Electronic Security Wing, Ft. Meade, MD and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the 694th Intelligence Group. In 1995 he was named the Outstanding Intelligence Support Officer of the Year with the Air Intelligence Agency. Bob later worked for the defense industry with Ford Aerospace, Loral, and Lockheed Martin, retiring as Director of Reconnaissance and Intelligence Systems development.

Today, he serves as Commander of American Legion Post 237 in Pleasanton and enjoys his hobby as a life long amateur radio operator. He also plays the trumpet in area bands, ensembles and stage orchestras. He graduated from Las Positas College with an AA in Music in 2010 following retirement from the defense industry.