Area(s) of special interest:  Working through the Messier Catalog, Galaxies, and planetary observing… improve my CCD astro-photography skills.
 

AAS:  Are you a seasoned amateur astronomer or just getting into the hobby?   

AW:  I’ve always had an interest, but only really made it a hobby in late 2002.  I’m still learning my way around the sky, but hope to improve my star-hopping skills as time goes by. 
  

AAS:  What was your first experience that attracted you to astronomy? 

AW:  I was hooked during a 4th grade camping trip where the elementary school science teacher brought his 8” equatorial dob and we got to see Saturn and its moons along with some clusters...   
 

AAS:  Tell us a little about your family members; spouse? kids? siblings? significant other?  

AW:  I met my wife Staci in high school in Southern Indiana (near Louisville, KY), and we married in 1998.  Staci has a PhD in molecular biology (plant genetics), and is doing post-doctoral research at North Carolina State Univ in Raleigh, NC.  Yes… we are living as “geo-bachelor-bachelorette” until I finish my school at Maxwell AFB in Jun 2006... I’ll move back to Raleigh at that time.  
  
AAS:  Can you tell us a little about your formal education?  

AW:  I earned a BS in Criminology from Univ. of Louisville (KY), and am currently working on a MS in Military Aerospace Application and Management at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL.
  

AAS:  Do you have any pets? What kind?  How Many?  

AW:  A couple fish, and one very cute cocker-spaniel named Annie.
  

AAS:  Where do you work? If you're retired, what was your occupation?   If you're still in school, have you chosen a career?  

AW:  I’m an Air Force Reservist currently on one-year of active duty orders attending USAF Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB.  Normally I work full-time as a defense contractor supporting command and control and intelligence systems, networks, and databases (C4ISR) for the Air Force.  As a part-time reservist, I would perform drill weekends at Langley AFB, VA I charge of intel surveillance and reconnaissance missions by U2 and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).      
  
AAS:  Besides astronomy, what other hobbies do you enjoy?  
  
AW:  Too many (or rather, too many that compete for my wallet!).  I have a 1967 Chevy Camaro that I’m slowly restoring (you can never be done.  I also enjoy computers, reading, camping, hiking, and road/mountain biking.

AAS:  What was your first or favorite car?  
That 1967 Camaro was my first car…. and remains my favorite.
  
AAS:  What was your first or most interesting job?  

AW:  My most interesting jobs have been ones that I can’t really talk about. ;-)  However, there was one memorable military conference in the United Arab Emirates where I was responsible for pulling together the presentations and speeches for 15 US and Arab General Officers… it was a bit like herding cats.  Everything went very well (much to the delight of our UAE hosts)… in return for a job well done, my Emiri counterpart offered one of his palaces (harem included!) for me to stay in!!!  I kindly declined, explaining my wife would be somewhat less enthusiastic about the idea; however, I valued his gracious offer, and we settled on an extravagant Bedouin-tent dinner instead.  

AAS:  Tell us about your favorite vacation.  

AW:  So far, the best vacation entailed 10 days hiking and camping along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina back in summer 2003.  Saw lots of wildlife, lost some weight, and had a great time unwinding after returning from 6 months in the Middle East for Op. IRAQI FREEDOM.  My wife and I hope to travel to Australia/New Zealand and Europe at some point in our life. 
  
AAS:  Have you ever lived in some other part of the U.S. or another country?  Where?  When?  

AW:   Grew up in southern Indiana until 1996; spent 10 months in San Angelo, TX (the best skies I’ve seen yet!); 1996-1998 in southern Turkey (and a few trips to England, Germany, and Italy); and 1998-2005 in Columbia, South Carolina while assigned to Shaw AFB.  I “enjoyed” several 3-6 month deployments to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and a very short stay on the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier during its deployment in the Persian Gulf.