Patrick Ballard (BSFCS ’91, Hotel and Restaurant Administration) enrolled in the University of Georgia with the goal of being commissioned an officer in the U.S. Air Force, but with several years of experience working in the restaurant industry, he majored in hotel and restaurant administration as a fallback plan.

Ballard hasn’t needed that fallback. He was commissioned a second lieutenant after earning his degree and completing four years of ROTC Air Force training and has spent the past 16 years in the Air Force rising to his current rank of major. In January, he began a four-month assignment in Bagran, Afghanistan, as commander of the 455th Maintenance Squadron.

In an email interview from his base in Afghanistan, Ballard explained that he’s responsible for the technicians, equipment and production of the “backshop” capability for the F-15E, C-130, and A-10 aircrafts. Backshop capability means Ballard’s troops repair the planes’ engines, avionics and fuel cells; manufacture things, such as fabricating the metal parts used in landing gears; oversee detailed inspections of the planes and their systems; and provide support for other units at the base.

Despite his background in the foods industry, Ballard says he had no interest in specializing in that area of the Air Force.

“I originally wanted to be a pilot and was commissioned as a pilot candidate,” Ballard says, however, the end of Operation Desert Storm resulted in cutbacks on the number of pilots being commissioned and Ballard was told to choose another specialty. “I figured if I can’t fly right away I might as well be as close to them as I can, so aircraft maintenance is what I chose,” he says.

Although Ballard doesn’t have the opportunity to travel off-base, he describes his view of the Hindu-Kush mountains as beautiful.

“We are at 5,000 feet above sea level and the mountains look like the Rockies so I know they must be about 12,000 feet. At some points, even higher. The base is nestled in a valley in what appears to be a bowl because we are surrounded by mountains on almost all sides,” he says, but then goes on to describe the base environment. “However on the valley floor, where we are, there is a lot of construction on the base and de-mining activities so there is a lot of barren earth exposed which makes for a muddy mess when we have snow or rain and a dust bowl when it is dry.”

When he’s not working, Ballard can grab a snack at the Burger King, Dairy Queen or Orange Julius located on base. There are also “morale tents” that offer movies and a number of video game consoles, but Ballard’s favorite activity is talking to his family via a webcam. “I can cam and chat with my family from my room and it makes the separation more bearable,” he says.

Ballard’s family includes his wife of 13 years, Stephanie, and three daughters, Tarryn, age 91/2; Kaitlyn, 8; and Julia, 4.

“We met at my first assignment at Minot Air Force Base in Minot, ND, where she was in her master’s program at Minot State University,” he recalls of meeting Stephanie. “I was a flight-line maintenance officer with B-52 Stratofortresses there.”

Since that first posting, Ballard and his family have been assigned to Air Force bases in Columbus, Miss.; Moody Air Force Base near Valdosta, Ga.; Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida; and Randolph Air Force Base in Texas. His current base is Mountain Home in Idaho. He also spent a year in Iceland on what he describes as a “remote tour.”

Although it’s clear that Ballard’s heart is in the Air Force, he does hint at another side of his personality – band member.

In describing possible plans after he retires from the Air Force, Ballard says, “I will either go into something in the defense industry or my entrepreneurial side may take over and I could open a nightclub, or a talent agency (I have been in a few bands) or both.”

In a later email, Ballard says he sang lead in a band called The Tremors between 1988-90. He’s performed with two other bands since his college graduation, singing lead and playing rhythm guitar.

Although it seems that Iraq receives more media attention than troops serving in Afghanistan, Ballard says that he and the other troops do receive support from friends and family in the States. “We know the folks back home care about us,” he says. “You should see the care packages that are sent here.”

He also expresses support for the ongoing hunt for Osama bin Laden, comparing the search to that of convicted Olympic bomber Eric Rudolph, who eluded authorities for five years in the Appalachian wilderness.

“That was in our own backyard,” Ballard says. “Now exacerbate that by hiding someone in a place like the most remote part of the Rocky Mountains, being supported by hostile forces and it isn’t any wonder that we haven’t picked him up yet.

“Regardless of how folks feel back home, most of us and our brothers-in-arms here with us from other services and NATO members are here for a reason and we understand the reason,” he says. “We are located about 100 miles from where 9/11 was planned. We are on the hunt for a man who is hiding in one of the most remote and rugged areas on the planet. (Bin Laden) is surrounded by sympathizers who have managed to isolate themselves to such an extent that their own government (Pakistan) can’t go in and help us.”

As he anticipates returning home in mid-May, Ballard says he’s looking forward to seeing his family and friends.

“I miss my girls, I miss my dog and cats, I miss my neighbors,” he says, but he also misses his freedom. “I look forward to being able to go off the base and have the freedom of movement that I don’t have here. We are restricted to base here for our protection, so it will be nice to get in my Jeep and just go somewhere like the lake to go fishing.”