FD native earns Air Force honor

With hundreds of planes in the sky all over the world at any given moment, the U.S. Air Force urgently needs accurate weather information.

Capt. William Miklo, a Fort Dodge native, plays a key role in getting weather data from the meteorologists to the flight crews. His skill in carrying out that job has recently earned him an Air Force honor.

Miklo was named the service's 2nd Weather Group Company Grade Officer of the Year for 2008.

''Will has become a recognized leader within our community and ensures that these critical weather products and support remains intact throughout the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,'' Col. John M. Engentowich, the group's commander, wrote in a letter announcing the award.

Miklo said the award came as a surprise to him. He said the honor also belongs to the nine airmen who work for him.

''Really, it's a tribute to a lot of hard work by a lot of good people and I just got to take the credit for it,'' he said.

Miklo is not a meteorologist. His job combines the duties of a communications officer and an information technology manager. On a daily basis, he and the airmen he leads maintain the computer network and communications needed to move weather data from forecasters at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska to flight crews across the globe.

Now stationed at Offutt, Miklo has worked at air bases in Oklahoma, Washington state, Afghanistan and Iraq. He's been an airman for 16 years, and plans to make a career out of the service.

''Other than my family, the Air Force has been the greatest thing that's happened to me,'' he said. ''I'm absolutely having a great time.''

The captain is the son of Kerry and Kaye Miklo, of Fort Dodge. He graduated from St. Edmond High School in 1991. He has a bachelor's degree from Park University, in Parkville, Mo., plus master's degrees in business administration and information technology from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo.

Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net

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MadVette
03-22-09 10:50 PM »Report Abuse	Thank You to Mr. Miklo for serving us, his fellow free citizens.

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