Alphonso Thomas, Director of Engineering and Technical Management, Air Force Sustainment Center
I started Auburn in 1977 as a math major on a Navy ROTC scholarship and marched in the band. I also was with the Auburn Knights Orchestra.
I dropped out after one quarter and enlisted in the Air Force as a musician (saxophone). After four years, returned to Auburn on an Air Force scholarship and earned my bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering (EE) in 1984 and was commissioned as an officer in the Air Force. Left active duty in 1992 and eventually returned to the Air Force as a Civilian in 1996. Earned my Masters in EE in 2004.
Fast forward, now I’m director of engineering for the Air Force Sustainment Center, which includes Robins AFB in Georgia, Tinker AFB in Oklahoma and Hill AFB in Utah. I have lived and worked at Maxwell AFB, Ala; Ramstein AB, Germany; Los Angeles AFB, Calif.; Hanscom AFB (near Boston), Mass.; Robins AFB, Georgia; Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio; Rome, N.Y.; Tinker AFB (near Oklahoma City), Okla.