“Nothing Happens Until People Start Talking”

Iraq: A View From the Ground and 30,000 Feet

Lt. Col. Tom Killingsworth, Idaho Air National Guard
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 11:45 am – 1:15 pm
The Grove Hotel, Boise

City Club member Lt. Col. Tom Killingsworth has just returned from his second deployment in Iraq, as the Senior Intelligence Officer for the U.S. Air Force’s 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base.  

With nearly one thousand takeoffs and landings a day, Balad Air Base is the second busiest airport in the world behind London Heathrow.  It’s also a city of its own, with 20,000 troops.

The 332nd AEW, also known as “the tip of the spear,” is the most forward deployed Air Force Wing in Operation Iraqi Freedom. It has its roots in the famous Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group of World War II. Today, it operates three F-16 fighter squadrons, a Predator UAV squadron, a C-130 squadron, a combat search and rescue squadron and an A-10 Thunderbolt II squadron.  

Lt. Col. Killingsworth will discuss his experiences in Iraq, provide insight into issues surrounding our ongoing involvement, and answer questions from the audience.  

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a degree in chemical engineering, Tom Killingsworth was commissioned into the Navy in 1985, serving on attack submarines.  He then became an intelligence officer, and serves with the 124th Wing of the Idaho Air National Guard. Mr. Killingsworth’s “day job” is as a financial consultant at AG Edwards.  He is also the past chair of the program committee of the City Club of Boise. 

Deadline for reservations: Noon, Monday, March 17th, 2008.

Forum Chairs: Laura Spiering and Marshall High
Forum Moderator: Marcia Franklin

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