Post Officers 2023-24
Commander
Dave Gallagher (bio pending)
Senior Vice Commander
Jim Halligan (bio pending)
Junior Vice Commander
Jack Finn (photos and bio pending)
Adjutant
Milt Harrigan (photos and bio pending)
Military Background
- Joined Army 1975 and retired in 1996
- Assigned in numerous locations in the US and in Korea
- Served on both Active Duty and Army Reserve
Civilian Background
- Worked at Sikorsky Aircraft and retired after 30 years
Currently
- Post 16 Adjutant
- Post 16 Color Guard and Rifle Squad
Finance Officer
Jim Boulay Bio pending.
Sergeant-at-Arms
Mike Kellett
Military Background
- Navy Active Duty 1982-86
- Served aboard the USS Truett FF-1095
Civilian Background
- Shelton Vol. Fire Dept 1986-2021
- Current Employer Conn. Office of The State Fire MarshalCurrently
- State Sgt-at-Arms
- 3rd District Adjutant
Service Officer
Bill Kozak (bio pending)
Historian
Gary Hayek (bio pending)
Chaplain
Gary Danielsen (bio pending)
Sr Vic Elect/ Webmaster
Lt Col John F. Simonetti, USAF (Ret) Lieutenant Colonel John F. Simonetti was born Oct 12, 1957 in Derby, Connecticut. After graduating High School at Fairfield Prep in 1975 he attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY graduating in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science Degree (Cum Laude) in Physics. In 1981 he earned his commission at the Air Force Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, TX. He is a graduate of Squadron Officer’s School (1985), Air Command and Staff College (1995), and holds a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (1997).
Lieutenant Colonel Simonetti earned his pilot wings in 1981at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas as a Distinguished Graduate and winner of the Academic Award from Undergraduate Pilot Training. From there he was assigned to the 25th Flying Training Squadron at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma as an instructor pilot in the T-38. In March 1986 he attended F-16 Basic Training at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona and graduated in October, 1986. His first F-16 assignment was to the 496th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Hahn Airbase, Germany. There he also served as squadron Standardization and Evaluation Liaison Officer and Assistant Chief of Wing Training for the 51 Tactical Fighter Wing. In 1989, Lieutenant Colonel Simonetti was assigned as Air Liaison Officer to the 8th Infantry Division of the US Army in Bad Kreuznach, Germany. In October, 1990 he volunteered to serve in Operation Desert Shield and was reassigned to the 12th Aviation Brigade already in place at King Fahd Airport, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During Operation Desert Storm, Lieutenant Colonel Simonetti’s unit participated in history’s largest air assault operation in conjunction with the 101st Airborne Division’s movement into Iraq.
Immediately after the war, Lieutenant Colonel Simonetti was selected as initial cadre member of the 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. After requalification and Block 40 F-16 training at MacDill and Luke Air Force Bases, he arrived in Alaska in December, 1991. There he served as F-16 instructor pilot, flight commander, and Chief of Wing Stan Eval. Reassigned to 17th Air Force Headquarters, Sembach Airbase, Germany in February 1995 as Chief of Safety, Lt Col Simonetti witnessed the closure of that command and was asked to serve as F-16 evaluator on the United States Air Force, Europe Standardization and Evaluation Team. He rose to become Chief of that office in 1997 and in July 1998 was reassigned to Luke as an instructor pilot and assistant operations officer in the 309th Fighter Squadron. Lieutenant Colonel Simonetti completed his tour at Luke as the assistant operations officer in the 56th Operational Support Squadron and instructor pilot in the 310th Fighter Squadron.
A command pilot with over 3300 Flying hours, Lieutenant Colonel Simonetti has over 2000 hours in F-16. His military decorations include the Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Commendation medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Readiness Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Armed Forced Expeditionary Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.
Lieutenant Colonel Simonetti is married to the former Louise B. Anziano from Trumbull, Connecticut. They have twin sons John and Joseph, 30, who are married and live in the DC area.