JERRY VERNON GILBERT
Jerry V. Gilbert was born 16-Nov 1947 in Homeland, Riverside, California. His parents were Robert Eugene Gilbert (1916–2004) and Helen (Bouska) Gilbert (1928–2008). He had one brother: John Wesley (1957-1980) and one sister: Rosemary. Jerry was in the ROTC program and Civil Air Patrol while he was in high school. In high school Jerry was a manager on the baseball team and business manager on the yearbook staff. He graduated high school in 1967 with honors.
Jerry studied mechanical engineering at Riverside City Community College and later the University of Southern California graduating from University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree. He then earned a master’s in science degree in electrical engineering at Stanford University.
Jerry served in the United States Air Force from 1970 to 1974, working with the Defense Intelligence Agency on aircraft armament systems and as a Space System analyst developing technologies to monitor earth orbiting satellites. The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is a United States Department of Defense agency that provides military intelligence. The DIA’s mission is to help the United States, and its allies prevent and win wars by providing intelligence on foreign militaries.
While in the Air Force Jerry worked at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs Colorado. At that time, he had high level clearance and worked on “Top Secret” projects.
Jerry developed safety and data security systems for the laboratory’s nuclear test reactor. He was the lead engineer on data network designs for the Air Force’s Pacific radar systems and Air Support Operations Center and the lead engineer for computer data systems to monitor and track transuranic nuclear wastes generated at INEEL. He was an expert on microprocessor-based data acquisition systems. During his enlistment, Jerry was also based at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio for a couple of years, and March Air Force Base in California. Jerry left the Air Force in 1974.
Jerry was eligible and likely awarded the following medals and commendations:
- Air Force Good Conduct Medal
- Air Force Training Ribbon
- National Defense Service Medal
After his time in the Air Force, Jerry made his career in Idaho Falls, working first as an instructor at the University of Idaho’s electrical engineering extension office and then, until his retirement, at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL).
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