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Major General
Michael John Butchko (US Air Force Retired) passed away peacefully in his home
on December 5, 2018. Born January 9, 1940 in Moundsville, WV, to Michael J.
Butchko, Sr. and Helen Marie Litman. Mike was a Leader, Patriot, US Air
Force Veteran, and Man of Honor who served on active duty for 31 years. He
graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 1962 and retired as the Air Force
Weapons Development Center Commander, Eglin AFB, FL in 1993.
His first assignment was pilot training in Texas. Before earning his pilot
wings, he met and married his life long partner, Kay Ann Henry, of Nacogdoches.
They celebrated their “Double Nickel” anniversary (55 years) in August 2018.
He officially changed his residency and became a life long Texan.
During Vietnam (1965-1970), General Butchko flew KC-135 air-refueling tankers,
RC-135 Strategic Reconnaissance, and a full-year tour in RB-66 Tactical
Reconnaissance. He flew 129 combat and strategic reconnaissance missions.
Following his combat experience, Maj Gen Butchko went to the USAF Test Pilot
School and subsequently flew 42 different aircraft including the F-104, F-15 and
F-16. Applying his hands-on flight test knowledge and program management
skills, he led the Development of the F-15E Strike Eagle Fighter, our nation’s
most successful air to air fighter jet and the C-17 Airlifter the most heavily
used cargo aircraft in today’s military. He believed in taking prudent
risks and often challenged accepted concepts in aircraft design to expand
capability and safety. These aircraft remain vital in US defense today.
His final Air Force assignment was as Commander of the Air Force Development
Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, FL where he was responsible for testing of
U.S. and allied non-nuclear munitions, electronic combat and supporting systems.
With 724 square miles of land, Eglin is the largest air base in the Free World.
After leaving the Air Force in 1993, General Butchko became the president of the
$440Mil company that operated the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station for NASA and the US Air Force and oversaw the launch of 42
spacecraft. He then shifted to be Chief Operating Officer of the $580Mil
company operating the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) nuclear test site,
which is the size of Rhode Island located north of Las Vegas. NNSS leads our
nation in scientific innovation projects. He deployed his team to assist
the Japanese government in managing the Fukushima disaster.
In 2013, General Butchko finally lived up to his commitment to his wife of
fifty-five years and brought Kay back to Nacogdoches where they had married.
He immediately became active in the community as a volunteer. He served on
the Nacogdoches Airport Commission, the Senior Citizen Center Board, SFASU STEM
Advisory Board, the Red Cross Deep East Texas Board and led the effort to
reestablish an office for the Red Cross in Nacogdoches.
Major General Butchko held a Bachelor of Science Degree from the U.S. Air Force
Academy, a Master's Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern
California and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Auburn
University. His professional schooling includes the USAF Test Pilot School, the
Defense Systems Management College and Air War College.
Of his long and distinguished career in the Air Force, the civilian world and
through his dedicated volunteer work, Mike was known for high integrity and
expectations, quick wit, insightful and innovating thinking. He had two
criteria for himself: “Have fun and make a difference.” He is
remembered across the country for his leadership style of optimism, teambuilding
and humor. Perhaps especially remembered for his “Butchkoisms”---those off
the cuff, cut to the essence, sayings that brought humor and often “groans” to
make a definitive or obscure point.
Major General Butchko is survived by his wife Kay Henry Butchko, son Benjamin
Michael Butchko, his wife, Kirstin Peterson Butchko, granddaughter, Elizabeth
Ann Butchko, of Colorado and grandson, Jay A. Yeats; his daughter, Kathryn
Butchko Pelka, son in law, Air Force Colonel Jay E. Pelka and granddaughter,
Katelyn Marie Pelka of Virginia. He leaves behind a sister, Christina
Marie Butchko, of Nacogdoches and brother Andrew Butchko of Belize. He was
always proud to be the son in law of Ernestine Henry.