Five Decades of Civil Service; 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s Longest serving Ellsworth Civilian retires.

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dylan Maher
  • 28th Bomb Wing
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The Air Force bid farewell to Dale Landis, 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron flight chief and vehicle manager, during a retirement ceremony celebrating 51 years of military civil service.

“I’ve been blessed.” said Landis. “I never thought when I started out here that I’d be [serving] that long…It’s been a great ride and an honor to serve.”

Landis was born in 1951 in Mobridge, South Dakota, which is home to less than 3,000 residents today.

“In it’s heyday, Mobridge was little over 5,000 people,” said Landis. “It’s a small farming community with a railroad that runs through it and a power plant where my dad worked.”

As a local gas station employee during his formative years, Landis married his high school sweetheart and had his sights set for college and later his enlistment in the United States Army.

“I had enough money for half of [the college semester] and wasn’t sure if that was something I wanted to keep pursuing,” said Landis. “Instead, Uncle Sam wanted me.”

Landis entered the military delayed entry program and reported for U.S. Army basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri in January 1972. Over two months later, he began work as a personnel specialist assigned to the Army Security Agency Training Center, Fort Devens, Massachusetts.

Dale entered the U.S. Army with the rank of Private Second Class and left basic military training as a Private First Class. Throughout his time working in the enlisted records management and officer section, Landis had the opportunity to work and lead people above his pay grade when those positions above him became vacant or dissolved.

“In the Army, I was fortunate enough to learn from great people, learn people skills, and share the pride of having worn the uniform,” said Landis.

After his two-year service commitment ended, Landis decided his next move was to transition to military civil service with his employment at Ellsworth in January 1974.

“When I arrived [at Ellsworth], there was a lot of evidence of World War II era facilities,” said Landis. “Up along Ellsworth Drive towards Camp Lancer used to be old, wooden buildings, barracks, bus barns, and the budgeting office. The Pride Hangar is one of the few buildings still standing from that time.”

Assigned to the 28th Transportation Squadron, Landis’ first duties from 1974 to 1983 were a tire-repair and mobile equipment servicer, automotive worker, and automotive mechanic.

“Ellsworth was home to four wings at the time.” said Landis. “There used to be 1,200 vehicles that we maintained and 100 of us to support them.”

From 1983 to 1994, Landis advanced in his leadership capabilities as a supply vehicle production controller, detailed vehicle maintenance officer, and squadron budget analyst.

“I stayed on the mechanical side for quite a while before I was able to make the move,” said Landis. “I knew I didn’t want to break down tires for the rest of my time here. Once I went to night school and got my degree, I could see that this was not a bad field to stay into.”

From 1994 to 1996, Landis did a stint as a heavy maintenance shop foreman before stepping into the role as vehicle management flight commander in 2003.

“I’m a firm believer of education and taking advantage of the opportunities that come to you,” Landis said. “I never really had any goals or focus of what I wanted in life, until I started working [at Ellsworth]. Always set your goals high and look towards the future.”

Finally, from 2003 to his retirement in 2025, Landis finished his career as a vehicle management flight chief.

During the retirement ceremony, Landis received an encased folded United States Flag, commemorating 51 years of military civil service he dedicated to Raider Country.

“I don’t regret any of it. I’ve always worked hard to get training and equipment that I could for my people,” said Landis. “I always said to myself: if I’m ever in a spot where I’m making the decisions and I can do it to provide for my people, I’m going to make sure we have the best equipment we can to do the job.”