BIOGRAPHY

**Col. Ernest R. Bourgeois**

Col Bourgeois was born in Belvidere, Illinois in 1929 during the
Depression and was raised in Illinois, Louisiana, Texas and California.
He graduated in 1947 from High School in San Francisco, and attended the
University of California in Berkeley, CA from 1948-49. In March 1951, he
served during the Korean War in the U.S. Army, 2^nd^ Infantry Division,
23^rd^ Infantry Regiment, Co. M. Injured in combat, he was returned by
the US Army to the Letterman's Hospital in San Francisco. He was
eventually assigned to light duty in the Oakland Escort Detachment until
separated in Dec 1952 to inactive reserves. He received an Honorable
Discharged in Dec 1953 due to a combat disability award. In 1971, he
pursued various education courses on the GI Bill and eventually was
employed by Chevron U.S.A. Inc in Los Angeles, CA and held various
positions in sales and marketing. He was a Division Marketing/Systems
Analyst when he retired at the age of 55 in June 1985 after 24 years
with Chevron. A Private Pilot's license and instrument rating had been
obtained in 1971 at the John Wayne Airport in Irvine, CA. He and wife,
Denise, decided to move from Irvine, CA to Arizona after retiring and
lived in Payson, Pine and Prescott before buying a home in Sedona, AZ.
While volunteering in several charitable organizations in Sedona he
obtained an Arizona Real Estate Sales license and then an AZ Real Estate
Brokers license. After his wife, Denise, called his attention to a
newspaper article about a CAP meeting on the Sedona Airport, he joined
the Civil Air Patrol in June 1989 as a member of the Verde Valley
Composite Squadron 205.

Col Bourgeois served in Squadron 205 as a SAR/DR Mission Pilot and a
Mission Observer, an ES Officer, a Sq Chief of Staff and became the
Squadron Commander in 1993. In 1995, he and wife decided to live
temporarily in Kauai, Hawaii where he transferred to the CAP Kauai
Senior Squadron. A year later they moved to Maui and transferred to the
Maui Composite Squadron. In November 1997 he and wife moved back to
their home in Sedona, AZ. He transferred back to the Verde Valley
Composite Squadron 205 where he served as the ES Officer before being
assigned again as the Squadron Commander. In September 1998, he accepted
a position as the Group 2 Commander, northern Arizona, from Col Mike
McGlade, Wing Commander. In September 1999, he and wife decided to move
back to Maui, Hawaii as full time residents. He transferred to the Maui
Composite Squadron again and served as a Mission Pilot, Mission
Observer, Administration and Personnel Officer. In September 2001, he
and wife moved to Southern California, and transferred to the Camarillo
Composite Squadron 61 and served as a Mission Pilot, Observer, and as ES
Officer and then as the Squadron Commander. In June 2003, Arizona called
him and wife back to Phoenix where they settled in Carefree. Col
Bourgeois transferred to the Arizona Wing and was assigned as the Wing
Chief of Staff and the Administration Officer by the Wing Commander, Col
John Varljen. On October 1, 2005, he was assigned as the Arizona Wing
Commander, replacing Col Varljen. On October 28, 2006 he accepted a
position in the Southwest Region as the Director of Southern Border
Operations. He still remains a qualified Sr Mission Observer with
Counterdrug qualifications.

**CAP Education: Flight Information:**

Level 1 Orientation/CPPT -- Jul 1989 Ratings: CAP Senior Pilot

ECI 02130A Scanner -- Nov 1989 CAP Senior Observer

Squadron Leadership School -- Jun 1990 SAR/DR Mission Pilot

ECI 02130B Observer -- Aug1990 Mission Observer

ECI 0013 -- Jan 1991 Cadet Orientation Pilot

Corporate Learning Course -- Apr 1991 Counterdrug Pilot/Observer

ECI 02130D ES -- May 1991 Mission Radio Operator

Region Staff College -- 1993 Flight Hours: 1,200

ECI 0023 -- Mar 1995 Aircraft: Cessna182, 172, 172XP, 177

Piper 28-150 Warrior, Arrow 200

**Specialties**: Administration (Master) Beech A36

Flight Operations (Master)

Emergency Services (Tech)

**Awards and Decorations (partial listing)**

Chuck Yeager AE Achievement Award -- Oct 89

Corporate Learning Course Instructor Award -- Jul 1992

AZ Wing Pilot of the Year Plaque -- 1992

AZ Wing Commander's Commendation -- Nov 1992

Grover Loening Aerospace Award -- Jun 1993

Southwest Region Staff College -- Jul 1993

AZ Wing Pilot of the Year -- Mar 1993

Air University Squadron Officers School -- Mar 1995

Paul E Garber Award -- Mar 1995

AZ Wing Sr Leadership Training Course -- Apr 1997

USAF Luke AFB 56 FW Quality Facilitator Course -- Feb 1998

AZ Wing Group Commander of the Year Plaque -- 1998

AZ Wing Commander's Commendation -- Jul 1999

Hawaii Wing DEA Award Plaque -- Jul 2000

CA Wing Commander's Commendation Award -- Jun 2002

National Hqs CAP SET Skills Examiner Training -- Oct 2002

USAF CAP Camarillo Composite Sq 61 Appreciation Plaque -- Jun 2003

Gill Robb Wilson Award -- Mar 2006

The Distinguished Service Award -- Oct 2006

Distinguished Service as Commander AZ Wing -- October 2006

**US Military Awards, Decorations and Ribbons**

Purple Heart w/2 bronze oak leaf clusters

Good Conduct Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Korean Service Medal

Republic of Korean Service Medal

Combat Infantryman Badge

United Nations Service Medal

Republic of Korea War Service Medal

**CAP Senior Ribbons**

Commander's Commendation

Grover Loening Aerospace Award -- Level III

Paul E Garber Award -- Level IV

Leadership

Membership

Brig Gen Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award

Command Service

Red Service

Gill Robb Wilson Award -- Level V

Air Search and Rescue

Cadet Orientation Pilot

Distinguished Service Medal -