Tougaw plans to major in Christian studies with an emphasis in pastoral studies and business administration.
features features features features features by 1st Lt. Matthew Mayberry HQ AIA/ PA Kelly Air Force Base, Texas
Todd's father was an Air Force chief master sergeant who managed a computer operations shop. His older brother, Ronald, was an Air Force enlisted contracting specialist who attended college classes at night and earned his commission through Officer Training School. His younger brother, Travis, is an Air Force ROTC cadet at San Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. Following in those proud footsteps, Senior Airman Todd
C. Tougaw, a computer systems development and dis-tribution specialist at the Air Force Information Warfare
Center, was recently awarded the Air Force's Scholar-ships For Outstanding Airmen.
SOAR allows major command and field operating agency commanders to select outstanding airmen to
receive two-to four-year scholarships to attend a college or university offering Air Force ROTC.
The $8,260 scholarship will pay for all required tuition, fees and textbooks, but does not include room
and board. Tougaw had to meet many requirements to be nomi-nated
for the SOAR scholarship, including: passing the Air Force ROTC fitness test, developing a financial plan
to follow when separated from active duty, having an outstanding record of military performance without dis-ciplinary
problems and meeting academic standards. The scholarship culminates a successful five-year
enlisted career for Tougaw and sends him off to work toward his Air Force commission as a ROTC cadet at
North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, Minn. Upon successful completion of his bachelor's degree and ROTC,
Tougaw will become a second lieutenant. Tougaw plans to major in Christian studies with an
emphasis in pastoral studies and business administra-tion. He chose to attend North Central Bible College
because it was the only Bible college on his short list of prospects that had an ROTC detachment, he said.
Already possessing his Community College of the Air Force associates degree in computer science technol-ogy,
Tougaw has two years remaining before finishing his bachelor's degree.
"Senior Airman Tougaw demonstrated outstanding leadership, dedication and loyalty by totally immersing
himself within every facet of Air Force life," Lt. Col. Laurence K. Rucker, an AFIWC supervisor, said. "Not
only committed to excellence on the job, but also a superb ambassador for the Air Force through honor
guard responsibilities Ñ he has placed service above self."
Tougaw works on the Tactical Sensor Planner pro-gram, a computer-based program of threat systems and
radar analysis that shows pilots how the radar will see them so they will know where they can safely fly. He
represented the program at a recent government soft-ware trade show. He demonstrated the mission plan-ning
capabilities and addressed integration issues to more than 50 analysts.
Photo by Boyd Belcher
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n Air Force career is not enough for a singer, actor and dancer
assigned to the Air Intelligence Agency. Senior Airman Roy
Bumgarner II, system administrator for NSA net and AIA mall accounts,
spends most of his off-duty time act-ing at local theaters and teaching
music classes to children ages five through 17 three days a week.
"I love to perform. Ever since I was a kid I performed at parties at
my house. In elementary school we did a show. I was picked on, but on
stage they liked me so acting began as a way of acceptance. The more I
did it, the better I got at it. There is no greater thrill than to hear the au-dience
go wild," said Bumgarner, who has held roles in more than 40 plays.
"I like playing comic characters,
AIA member spends spare time acting, teaching music to children
Senior Airman Roy Bumgarner II spends his off duty time acting at local theaters and teachning music classes to children ages five through 17 three days a week.
"Todd exceeded expectations by tackling highly tech-nical issues normally reserved for electrical engineers," Capt. Nancy L. Martineau, chief of Communications and Computer Operations at the AFIWC. "Todd possesses a natural talent and acquired proficiency to accomplish the most demanding taskings." Tougaw was promoted early to senior airman, and was selected AFIWC Airman of the Quarter and Airman of the Year for 1994. As a member and alternate squad leader of the AIA Honor Guard, Tougaw led his team to the finals in the
Individual Drill with Weapon category and was a mem-ber of the first place team in the regulation drill competi-tion at the 1994 annual Southwest Regional Drill Meet held at Lackland Air Force Base. A certified minister in the Assemblies of God Execu-tive Presbytery and a department head in his church, he organized and led a basketball program designed to redi-rect the activities of at-risk youth. He also helped con-struct a cafeteria and rebuilt part of a youth camp that had burned down, giving the camp the ability to host more than 1,500 people each summer.
by Airman 1st Class Jennifer Gregoire HQ AIA/ PA Kelly Air Force Base, Texas
A leading male role parts and everyday people of interest who go through some type of change. I become a thief, a bumbling idiot, a tap dancing banker or a man who was once a poor, abused child. You completely
lose who you are." "I love theater. It is all so sponta-neous and wonderful. You can't back up and say 'excuse me, I need to start again. ' In one play I had a glue-on mustache that I was trying to fix back in place on stage, but it was coming off as part of the gag. The audience was laughing and the girl I was act-ing with had no idea what was going on. I was playing the mustache thing up and it worked out great. I'll do anything for a laugh or an applause." Bumgarner's most challenging role involved having to dance, tap
dance and sing for over two hours. "It was my biggest challenge ever between working on the songs and learning how to tap dance. It took seven months. I'm my own worse critic. This is where I have too much integrity Ð if you're not going to give it all, get off the stage." "Jesus Christ has miraculously changed my life. I'm a singer, actor then dancer. This is definitely part of who I am. I'm waiting to see what God has in store for me. He didn't give me this ability for nothing and I'm praying to find out what's going to happen. I want to find a way to give my talents back to God. I have led a charmed life. I didn't realize God played an integral part of my life up to this point and I'm excited to see where it's going from here."
Photo by Boyd Belcher 2