Self-sacrifice is the real miracle out of which all the reported miracles grow.

 Ralph Waldo Emerson

Senior Airman Julian Scholten was born on October 17, 1985, into an Air Force family at Misawa Air Base, 

Japan, where he would spend much of his youth. However, in his short but meaningful life, he would also live 

in such diverse places as Germany, Colorado, and finally Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Julian’s time at Upper 

Marlboro’s Fredrick Douglass High was well spent. During high school, he played on the football team and 

managed to meet Diamond, the woman who would eventually become his wife. 

In 1814, Upper Marlboro served for a time as the headquarters of British forces that would defeat the 

American Army at Bladensburg and then go on to capture and burn the new capital of the fledgling republic. 

Despite this setback, due to the efforts of the brave men who carried the fight to the enemy, the United States 

would eventually prevail in the conflict and preserve its independence. In 2007, Julian would decide to follow 

this tradition by answering the call to defend his nation during a difficult and demanding time. 

After initial training, Julian would be assigned to a variety of installations and commands to include the 

Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California; Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas; and, eventually, the 

25th Intelligence Squadron (IS) at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The 25th IS 

traces its lineage to 1944 when it was created as a photographic technical 

unit whose purpose was to provide critical intelligence to U.S. combat 

operations in an effort to defeat the Axis. Decades later, the unit would 

provide critical support to Operation Desert Storm, and, after 9/11, it 

would assist in our nation’s efforts to combat terrorism around the globe. 

In January 2012, Julian would deploy with the unit to Djbouti, Africa. 

Senior Airman Scholten was not your average analyst. In fact, Julian 

was a very skilled tactical systems operator or TSO, and he was looked 

up to as a leader among his peers. He served as a key member of an 

airborne team of specialists whose purpose was providing critically 

needed intelligence for U.S. military operations.

Julian was one of the first-ever professional TSO’s at the 25th IS. Due 

to his demonstrated professionalism and expertise, his commander 

hand-picked him to become the unit’s first junior operator to enter flight 

The Story of a Cryptologic Hero

Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten
Photographs courtesy of the Scholten family

Visit our web site, www.nsa.gov

MEMORIAL DAY 2013

Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten

17 Oct 1985 - 18 Feb 2012

instructor training, a remarkable achievement for a senior airman. 

He consistently displayed maturity beyond his years and earned a 

reputation for being one of the most patient and insightful airman 

in the squadron. 

In his five years in the Air Force, Scholten completed two 

tours of duty as a TSO in Iraq. He amassed more than 200 combat 

sorties and accrued over 900 combat aviation hours. 

On February 18th, Julian was returning with his team from 

a reconnaissance mission in the U.S. Africa Command’s area of 

operations. Six miles from their base, their single-engine U-28 

turboprop crashed, killing the entire team. 

At a remembrance observance held after the tragedy, Maj. Gen. 

Robert P. Otto, Commander of the Air Force ISR Agency, would 

note that “Julian was a tremendous Airman,” but to his friends and 

family he was much more than a dedicated analyst. Julian loved 

movies, Asian cuisine, and the San Francisco 49ers. Most of all, he 

was devoted to those who loved him. His wife noted that he was 

the best husband, son, brother and friend that anyone could ever 

have, and that he will continue to live in the hearts of everyone 

who knew and worked with him.

Many believe that wars are won by great military leaders who 

set the example and show the way to victory. This is undoubtedly 

true. But it is also the case that nations prevail in time of war due, not only to those at the top, but also to the 

dedicated efforts of thousands of individuals like Senior Airman Scholten. In the end, it is their talents and 

abilities that allow those who stand in harm’s way to achieve their objectives and survive the crucible of war.

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