Missouri Valley graduate retires as Air Force colonel
Don Harrold, Executive Editor
editor@enterprisepub.com
Joshua Ehmen spent three years at Missouri Valley High School before heading to the U.S. Air Force Academy. His father credits the school and community with helping prepare him for a military career that ended in July, when Ehmen retired as a colonel after 24 years of service.
“Many wonderful teachers and counselors in Missouri Valley High School and in the community encouraged and supported him when he began his pursuit for applying to the Air Force Academy,” said his father, Robert Ehmen.
“The education he received at Missouri Valley High School, especially the advanced math and science courses prepared him well for the rigorous academics at the Academy.”
The family moved to Missouri Valley in 1995 after Robert retired from 21 years in the Air Force. A lieutenant colonel who flew F-4 and F-16 aircraft, Robert’s assignments had taken the family throughout the United States and to Japan. His final assignment was at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska.
“Josh seemed to show an interest in flying from his early years on,” Robert said. “At one point he was interested in becoming a lawyer, but that desire faded to aviation when he started junior high and high school.”
A 1998 Missouri Valley graduate, Josh graduated from the academy in 2002 with academic and military honors and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He completed pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma in 2003, earning distinguished graduate honors.
Robert said one of his proudest moments came when Josh was selected as a young officer for Advanced Weapons School training at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Josh graduated with honors and was chosen to remain as an instructor, teaching advanced C-17 mission capabilities.
“He said he enjoyed instructing young pilots the most,” Robert said. “He always included his family when making decisions about assignments.”
Josh flew C-17s during the global war on terrorism and advanced to senior command positions. His assignments included bases in Washington, New Jersey, Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii and Alabama, along with Okinawa, Japan, and Qatar.
“He states that Jesus Christ is first in their family and he gives God the glory for all the blessings in their life,” Robert said.
Josh now flies for United Airlines. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Alabama with their three sons.
