Meet Lt. Col. France Published Feb. 16, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Elsea 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Following in his father's footsteps, his dreams from a young age were of flying fighter planes in the world's greatest Air Force. Born on Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Lt. Col. Derek France, 43rd Fighter Squadron Commander, is the son of pilot. His father served in the United States Air Force for more than two decades, while his mother stayed at home to raise him and his younger sister until they were of school age when she returned to her work as a dental hygienist. Colonel France spent his childhood traveling from base to base. He planted roots in such places as Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio, Nevada, Turkey and England. "I really enjoyed moving around," said Colonel France. "My favorite, by far, was the two years we spent in Turkey, where I attended a very small Department of Defense school. I think my sixth-grade class consisted of about 14 kids." After graduating high school, his goal was clear, but the path to it was not as transparent. "I have known I wanted to be a pilot my whole life," said Colonel France. "Watching my dad growing up was a big part of it. But even though I knew I wanted to fly, I did not know I wanted to go to the academy." Colonel France looked at several schools but, taking into consideration his goal of flying, he knew the Air Force Academy offered his best chance. Upon graduation from the Academy, the Air Force immediately sent him to Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, where he began his pilot training on the T-37 and T-38. Following his training, he completed the F-15C Basic course at Tyndall, and then began his first operational assignment at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. "Alaska has a beautiful terrain," said Colonel France. "But, the best part about that time in my life was marrying my wife, Amanda." The wedding was held in her home state of Mississippi and directly following,. they both returned to Alaska to begin their life together. As a young lieutenant, the job was shaping up as well. "The flying was great," said Colonel France. "It was like any first assignment; you make some of your closest friends that you cut your teeth with and you are able to really learn about the Air Force." Directly following his time in Alaska, Colonel France was sent to Nellis AFB, Nev., for Weapons School, where his first daughter, Erin, was born. Over the years, Colonel France and his wife went on to have two more girls, Mattie and Clara. After Weapons School, Colonel France found himself at Langley AFB, Va., and not long after he returned to Nellis AFB to instruct at the Weapons School. He also served a remote tour to Saudi Arabia for a year. This was the longest period of time he had spent away from his family. His wife and kids stayed in Mississippi near his wife's family. "The Saudi Arabian people have a very different way of life," said Colonel France. "I flew with the Saudi Arabian Air Force, and that was about all we had in common. They have a different culture, religion, and even their priorities are different when it comes to how they approach their job." Colonel France was there in an instructor capacity, teaching his students how to fly the F-15. "I made some good friends while I was there," said Colonel France. "There were only a handful of us on the base. So, in my free time I worked on my master's degree, and I even bought a guitar, which I still can't play." After the family was reunited, they headed to Rhode Island so Colonel France could attend intermediate development education, and then on to Randolph AFB, Texas. They now call Tyndall AFB home. "Tyndall is easily my favorite assignment," said Colonel France. "I work with great Airmen and I really enjoy the opportunity to be a squadron commander. Most of your assignments in the Air Force boil down to who you work with, and having a great cast of Airmen to work with has been the highlight." Colonel France said he also enjoys the flying, the area and the weather. Outside of work, he is an avid runner and during the summer months he takes regular trips with his family to the beach and occasionally camping. "I got into running when we lived in Rhode Island," said Colonel France. "I ran several marathons, including the Boston marathon." His daughters are active in dance and sports, and he is currently coaching his middle daughter's soccer team. His wife also plays the role of full-time mom, part-time Anesthetist, and she is an active member of the Officers' Spouses Club. The family only has a handful of months left at Tyndall before they move on to the Washington D.C. area. Colonel France will be working in a fellowship with the State Department. "I think it will be a great area to live in," said Colonel France. "It may be a big city, kind of congested, but it will be a great opportunity for the kids to see the nation's capital and all it has to offer." But for now, his thoughts are still with his squadron. "For a training squadron, your overall goal is always to send a well-trained product to the Combat Air Force," said Colonel France. "Anyone that leaves this squadron needs to be competent in the airplane, disciplined in their approach to flying and motivated to go out the door here and then as soon as they arrive at their next unit, they are ready to go to war." He also tries to incorporate family into the squadron. "Squadron should always equal family," said Colonel France. "I don't just mean social events; it also includes holding each other to higher standards." He also believes as a family, you should be there through the good times and the bad. While instructing at the weapons school, Colonel France hit some bumps in the road and the squadron was there. "My mom was diagnosed with cancer and passed away while I was at Nellis," said Colonel France. "The support that I had from that squadron has always stood out in my mind. Her funeral was across town on a Saturday, and every single person from the squadron showed up. My dad, having served in the Air Force, was honored, but not surprised." Colonel France has learned a lot about the keys to thriving in the Air Force. "You have to be able to see the bigger picture," said Colonel France. "You can concentrate on one small piece of the puzzle, but you have to still understand how that one piece fits into the larger mission of the Air Force." He also suggests looking forward. "Treat every day as an investment," said Colonel France. "It can be an opportunity or a blessing in your own future and those that are around you. Improve yourself, get smarter at the job, and do the best you can at whatever you do." He said it is not important what you do; it is how you do it. "When we get new lieutenants to the squadron, they are usually in charge of stocking the snack bar," said Colonel France. "When you look at someone who is a college graduate, has a degree, and in pilot training, and you say 'welcome, stock the fridge,' the one that says, 'you bet, yes, sir, I am going to be the best fridge stocker you have ever seen,' he is the one who has the attitude to go far in the Air Force." But, perhaps his biggest piece of advice is to connect with people. "The people I have met are certainly the highlight of my career," said Colonel France. "I have had the opportunity to fly the F-22 and the F-15, two phenomenal planes. But, they are just planes, they are not the people that fly them, that fix them, that maintain them, that do all the support functions for them, they are just airplanes. General George Patton said it best: 'Wars are fought with weapons, but they are won by men.'" For more information on the 43rd Fighter Squadron click here.