Colonel Mark “Plug” Vlahos retired from the United States Air Force in 2011. During his 29-year career, he served in a wide-range of operational flying and staff assignments including command of a C-130 squadron in combat and Vice Wing Commander of the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, which was then the largest C-130 wing in the world. Colonel Vlahos attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University and holds master’s degrees from Webster University and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He is a member of the Troop Carrier/Tactical Airlift Association, The Air Force Historical Foundation and the Leon B. Spencer Research Team of the National World War II Glider Pilot Committee. He resides in New Braunfels, Texas.