2023-24 CHAPTER OFFICERS

Contact: Walt Kula

Walter J. Kula, Jr. is the President, Central Oklahoma Gerrity 215 Chapter, Air & Space Forces Association. He retired from the United States Air Force 1 April 2005 as a Chief Master Sergeant. Upon his retirement he worked until March 2008 as the Chief of Guards, USProtect Corporation. He was responsible for direct leadership of 95 security officers providing installation entry control to Tinker AFB.

In June 2021 he finished 13 years as an AFJROTC Aerospace Science Instructor at Choctaw High School.

He earned a Masters of Arts Degree in Management from Webster University, a Bachelors of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Park College, and an Associates Degree in Police Science from the Community College of the Air Force.

Enlisted and entered active duty in May 1978. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base Texas, he attended the Basic Security Police Academy Course and graduated in August 1978.

Had assignments at Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster Missouri; Incirlik Air Base, Adana Turkey; Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs Colorado; Randolph Air Force Base, Schertz Texas; and Tinker Air Force Base, Midwest City Oklahoma.

His military highlights include duties as the Superintendent, Nuclear and Space Security, Headquarters, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base Colorado responsible for developing and implementing security requirements for the 550 Land-Based Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles; the Superintendent, Security Forces Inspections, Headquarters, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base Texas inspecting over 16 military installations; and the Security Forces Manager, 72d Security Forces Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base Oklahoma responsible for enlisted issues of over 400 personnel.

During his career he served on numerous Base Committees (Youth, Chapel, Day Care Committees and Chairman, Tinker Chiefs’ Group), was a member of Lions Club International and Red Cross Shelter Manager Certified. In the 2000s he participated in Oklahoma City’s SouthEast Sector Planning Community Group and for three years he was a Volunteer with Tinker Federal Credit Union on their Credit Committee.

He is currently the Chairman, Oklahoma City’s Traffic and Transportation Commission, since January 2012, and has served on the commission since June 2008.

He is a life member in the Air & Space Forces Association, the Air Force Sergeants Association, and the Air Force Security Forces Association. He is also a member of the American Legion.

He is married, and his spouse, Judith (Retired Educator), is from Kansas City, Missouri. They have two children, Jonathan and Ashley.

Contact: Chip Chambers

Currently serving as the Secretary and V/P Tinker Heritage Foundation for the Central Oklahoma Gerrity 215 Chapter, Air and Space Forces Association. I enlisted in the USAF in 1979, in the medical field, separated after 8 years as a SSGT with a nursing degree. Stationed at Tinker AFB, OK; Howard AFB, Panama; Wiesbaden, Germany; and Soesterberg, Netherlands. Upon returning to the US, I got a job as a DOD federal employee at Tinker AFB Hospital, after it was torn down, got transferred into the Aerospace field, after 30 plus years, retired in 2020. Recently hired back at Tinker AFB, as a Aerospace Program Manager.

Some of my current interests involved volunteering for the Air and Space Forces Association Gerrity Chapter; Troop 798 Girl Scouts; Oklahoma History Center as a Living Historian, where I depict life during the Civil War era. I am a member of the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, and a local Classic Car Club. I enjoy driving my classic cars and traveling the states and world as a genealogist; and helping at the Lyric Theater in OKC and going to the ballet. I love taking my grandchildren to places they have never seen in my motorhome.

Education: Baccalaureate of Nursing CCAF; and a Master’s in Human Relations with a minor degree of Organization Management University of Oklahoma

Married to Jim Baxter, together have raised 5 children, and have 13 grandchildren.

Contact: Billy Gililland

Mr. Gililland recently returned to Oklahoma and General Atomics Systems Integration as Business Development Executive and Acquisition Logistic Subject Matter Expert. Prior to his return to Oklahoma he was on a three year sabbatical on his sailboat “Beata” sailing the coast of Mexico and Central America. His final adventure was sailing through the Panama Canal and into the Caribbean. He and his wife were taking this time to re-energize after 40 years of service to the war fighter both as a career Air Force Officer and defense contractor.

Prior to the sailing adventure Mr. Gililland’s last active position was the Senior Executive of Predator® XP Programs for the Aircraft Systems business unit of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI). In this role, he was responsible for worldwide sales and support for the exportable model of the world’s leading Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) system. GA-ASI manufactures, supports, and operates a variety of proven, reliable RPA for military and commercial applications worldwide.

Before coming to Aeronautical Systems, Mr. Gililland was President of General Atomics, Systems Integration LLC, the defense services affiliate of General Atomics, providing engineering services to U.S. Department of Defense customers, as well as full mission support services for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities around the globe.

Mr. Gililland was Vice President of the Aircraft Logistics and Sustainment (ALS) division, ARINC Aerospace Company. He joined ARINC in 1998 as a Logistician and Senior Systems Analyst and worked as Aircraft Systems Engineering Manager, Senior Manager of Acquisitions Support, Senior Manager of International Logistics Support, Director of Technical Operations and International Logistics, Director of Saudi Support Services, and Vice President of the Aircraft Maintenance and Modification division.

Mr. Gililland served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force, working in both operations and logistics. He served as an enlisted technician and as a commissioned officer. Mr. Gililland completed his Master’s of Science degree in both Logistics Management and Business Administration from the Air Force Institute of Technology. After 23 years of active duty, Mr. Gililland retired from the Air Force.

Mr. Gililland served as Co-chair of the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Aerospace Alliance and maintains his association with the Air Force Association, Logistics Officers Association, the Society of Logistics Engineers, and the Aerospace Industries Association.