A Brief Biography
Mr.
Steve Nelson retired from the United States Air Force in 1998 after
21 ½ years of service as a helicopter flight engineer / hoist
operator performing both Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) and Special
Operations. With broad
technical and operational experience, he advanced to the
position of Headquarters Standardization & Evaluation flight
engineer at both Air Rescue Service and Special Operations Command,
where he conducted training, evaluation, and operational oversight
of worldwide Air Force helicopter crewmembers.
He has extensive operational civilian and military rescue
experience in topography ranging from arctic to jungle, open sea to
mountainous 10,000 ft MSL, and used that experience in developing
Air Force procedures and operational doctrine.
As initial cadre of the Air Force Combat Rescue School he
researched and originated graduate level courseware and then taught
highly select aircrew to successfully negotiate all facets of
rescue. As Superintendent at
the Air Force Test and Evaluation Group he organized and reported
testing and evaluation of CSAR equipment and procedures.
He was mission qualified on the H-60 and H-1; transition
qualified on the H-53 and H-3; experienced with Breeze-Eastern and
Lucas-Western hoists, M60, M240, GAU-2B/A mini-gun and M2 .50 Cal
weapons systems; and initial cadre night vision goggle
qualified with 1000+ hrs of operational experience.
Today Mr. Nelson is sole proprietor of True Aviation LLC
and currently conducts corporate pilot operations along with
aircraft management. He remains an active instructor and commercial pilot
of both helicopters and airplanes
and
is also qualified in
helicopter external
load and
vertical reference
operations.
Military awards and decorations include the Airman's Medal for Heroism, five Meritorious Service Medals, three Commendation Medals, Achievement Medal, seven Good Conduct Medals, two Organizational Excellence Awards, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, three Outstanding Unit Awards, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, rifle & pistol Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbons, two NCO Professional Military Education Ribbons, Combat Readiness Medal, five Longevity Service Awards, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, Training Ribbon, Excellence in Competition Shooting Badge.