Maj. Gen. Thomas Deppe bids his farewell to AF

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Daylena Gonzalez
  • Air Force Space Command, Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., --  The Beatles released "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album. Hollywood's box office hits were, "The Graduate," "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Cool Hand Luke." Gasoline was 33 cents a gallon, movie tickets were $1.25, the average cost of a new home was $14,250 and a new car would cost around $2,750. 

That was 1967--the year Maj. Gen. Thomas Deppe, vice commander of Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., went to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. 

"At that time you were either in college or you got drafted," General Deppe said. "I had just dropped out of college, and then came my draft notice in the mail not too long after."
Convinced by a friend that the Air Force was the way to go, the young Thomas Deppe proceeded to the recruiting office to sign on the dotted line, with little knowledge of the positive impact that signature would have on his life. 

"I had no plans on staying in the Air Force any longer than I had to," General Deppe said. "But as time went on and I made staff sergeant in less than four years, I thought, 'Well, why not stay in a little longer?' I already had a job that I liked, why would I quit it when I might get something on the outside I didn't like?" 

That "little longer" became 42 years of military service. Putting his enlisted career behind him, General Deppe earned his commission in November 1977. 

"It was an interesting switch," he said. "I went from having credibility with my job as a technical sergeant, to a brand new lieutenant with no credibility whatsoever." 

General Deppe continued in the officer ranks with the intention of retiring as a captain. In fact, when it came time for him to pin on captain, 20 years of service had already passed. Captain Deppe continued on with his career. 

In March 1987, continuing to prove himself, he was selected for major below-the-zone, squelching, yet again, his intention to retire. 

He could have turned down the promotion and went ahead with his plans, but instead he chose to extend his commitment to the Air Force just "a little longer." 

"It seems like every time I thought about it, I committed more and more to the Air Force," General Deppe said. "Every promotion requires you to stay in that position for a certain amount of time. I kept getting promoted, so I stayed in the Air Force." 

The Air Force can only be thankful that General Deppe said "just a little longer", his solid commitment can be seen through his 42 years of service. Airmen can only be inspired by his commitment. It takes loyalty, dedication and determination. A sense of belonging, a family, a family of...Airmen are what General Deppe finds most rewarding.