From A-10 pilot to NFL; 64th Air Force Ball guest speaker

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lauren Main
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii- --  Chad Hennings is the epitome of what it means to be an "all-American hero." Though best known for his position with the Dallas Cowboys, Hennings also played for the U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons and served as an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot during Desert Storm. He is also this year's guest speaker for the 64th Air Force Ball Sept. 16.

"I hope to impress upon [the Airmen at the ball] to live a life full of legacy," said Hennings. "Each and every one of us is writing our own story every day of our lives."

Hennings' storied legacy and success began early on when he was an all-star football player at Benton Community High School in Van Horne, Iowa. His senior year, he became the all-state football standout and heavyweight wrestling champion.

Despite dozens of full-ride scholarship offers from numerous universities across the nation, Hennings chose to serve and attend the Air Force Academy.

"To serve is a privilege and a noble pursuit," he said. "The more you give away, the more it comes back to you."

This ideology proved to be true in more than one aspect of Hennings' life.

In 1985, during Hennings' sophomore year at the academy, the season saw its greatest year in Air Force Academy history. The Falcons went 12-1, were conference co-champions, defeated the University of Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl, and placed fifth in the final coaches' poll.

His skillful achievements quickly gained the attention of the National Football League and put him at the top of the list for many draft picks. His athleticism earned him a position with the Dallas Cowboys, but Hennings deferred his entry into the NFL to fulfill his duty to his country.

After graduation from the Air Force Academy, Hennings entered the undergraduate pilot training program at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. He was part of an elite program known as the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program.

Hennings wanted to be a fighter pilot, but due to his large stature, he was only eligible for a small number of aircraft. In the end, he found himself at the controls of the A-10 Thunderbolt II.

During his service, he flew missions in support of Operations Desert Storm and Provide Comfort, a humanitarian effort which provided relief and aid to Kurdish refugees in Northern Iraq.

But all the while, the NFL had a watchful eye on Hennings. In the 1988 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys took a chance and drafted Hennings in the eleventh round, despite his current active duty status.

Hennings caught a streak of luck. The Air Force underwent budget cuts that year and he was able to have the remainder of his active duty service obligation waived.

Hennings went on to join the Dallas Cowboys and continue his service in the Air Force Reserve for nine more years. He left in the NFL in 2000 with three Superbowl rings and the experience of a lifetime.

Despite it all, Hennings remains humble and sites his wife and children as his greatest achievements.

"I am most proud of my family; my wife, Tammy and my children, Chase and Brenna," he said. "Without them, no accolade or accomplishment has any meaning."



Editors Note: If you are interested in attending the 64th Air Force Ball, contact Senior Master Sgt. David Stubblefield, 647th Civil Engineering Squadron first sergeant, at david.stubblefield@hickam.af.mil or 448-2703. You can also contact Master Sgt. Ray Tuggle, 15th Wing exec support superintendent, at ray.tuggle@hickam.af.mil or 449-1557.