Mike King, class of 1986, was an involved student at La Salle, running track and cross country, being on the Math Team, serving on the Model Legislature, the newspaper and being in the National Honor Society and honor roll.  But there was something else that was his true passion – something that was hinted at in his chosen quote in the senior directory in the yearbook.  The quote was Neil Armstrong’s “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” that hinted at Mike’s drive to be off the earth.

“I always wanted to be a pilot,” said now Lieutenant Colonel King, United States Air Force Academy graduate in 1990 and current Commander of the 493^rd Fighter Squadron “Grim Reapers” based in Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England.  “My love of flying began up in New Hampshire and continued as I flew small planes out of the north-central airport in Rhode Island.  Those first years in flight were great but nothing can compete with the awesome feeling of having 50,000 pounds of thrust at your disposal in an F-15!”

Talking about his years at La Salle, Mike mentioned that he was not only second generation at La Salle (his father Joe King is class of 1945), he is the last of three in the family to have studied there, following not only his father but also his brother Patrick, class of 1983.

He particularly recalled Brother James Donahue who taught chemistry, Brother Ralph Darmento who was vice principal and taught math and his track and cross country coach Don Kavanagh who is now Principal of La Salle. “I received a great education from the very best teachers in Rhode Island and it presented me with wonderful opportunities – particularly the opportunity to attend the Air Force Academy.”

Mike’s road to his rank of Lieutenant Colonel and his present assignment in England had a number of steps and turns along the way.  He has been an instructor pilot, flight examiner, weapons instructor pilot, Flight Commander, and operational test pilot.  Following Mike’s 1990 graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in the span of slightly more than three years he found himself stationed in Mississippi, New Mexico, Florida and Alaska – much of those years in flight training.  During his assignment in Alaska, Mike was selected to attend the Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, where in  July of 1997 he was honored as a Distinguished Graduate of the F-15 Weapons Instructor Course. . Following his graduation, Mike was assigned to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia then returned to Nellis to instruct at the Air Force Weapons School. After his four years in Nevada, Mike earned a masters degree in management at the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Prior to arriving in England, Mike was the weapons and tactics branch chief at the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force in Europe located at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.  He has more than 2500 hours of flying, has piloted seven different types of aircraft and has numerous awards and decorations.  In an interview about his current assignment with “Combat Aircraft” magazine, Lt Col King said “Flying with the Reaper 1 callsign is humbling and dream come true for me.  The 493^rd has a long history of excellence and I hope to continue that tradition.”

Mike met his wife Liz in 1996 at Eglin Air Force Base on the panhandle of Florida where she was working as a U.S. Department of Defense contractor.  “It truly was love at first sight,” said Mike.  “We have been married for 8 years and have seen a lot of the world.  Along the way, we were blessed with our daughter, Aine, who is now 4 years old and doing well in a British school.”

In looking ahead, Mike said that he will have 19 years of active during in the Air Force this summer and thus will be eligible for retirement in just one more year.  “What happens at that time will be determined by the needs of the Air Force,” said Mike.  “Whatever happens, my years in service to our country have served me well.”