Jan Sterling, Belknap College ’71

I attended Belknap college from 1969-71 graduating with a BS in Meteorology. I accepted a job as a cartographer with the Defense Mapping Agency/Hyrographic-Topographic Center (DMA/HTC) in Brookmont, MD in 1980. DMA/HTC is now known as the National Geospatial Agency (NGA). I then transferred to the Rome Air Development Center (RADC) which became the Rome Laboratory (RL) and now called Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Information Directorate…one of several Air Force Labs. The mission of my division was to perform research, development, test and evaluate Recce Intel, Correlation Fusion and Precision Guidance Strike Products Technologies in support of DoD service objectives. We were constantly reminded that our technologies provided the war fighter with the tools to effectively accomplish mission objectives. Though my slot was that of an Air Force Civilian, we worked side-by-side with Air Force Officers and enlisted personnel and were tasked with similar duties and responsibilities. I retired in January of 2007. I hope my experience can help in persuading this gentlemen to reconsider his plan to remove the Belknap Plaque.

Regards, Jan Sterling, Belknap College ’71