Major General
Michael John Butchko (US Air Force Retired) passed away peacefully in his home
on December 5, 2018. Born January 9, 1940 in Moundsville, WV, to Michael J.
Butchko, Sr. and Helen Marie Litman. Mike was a Leader, Patriot, US Air
Force Veteran, and Man of Honor who served on active duty for 31 years. He
graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 1962 and retired as the Air Force
Weapons Development Center Commander, Eglin AFB, FL in 1993.His first assignment was pilot training in Texas. Before earning his pilot wings, he met and married his life long partner, Kay Ann Henry, of Nacogdoches. They celebrated their “Double Nickel” anniversary (55 years) in August 2018. He officially changed his residency and became a life long Texan.
During Vietnam (1965-1970), General Butchko flew KC-135 air-refueling tankers, RC-135 Strategic Reconnaissance, and a full-year tour in RB-66 Tactical Reconnaissance. He flew 129 combat and strategic reconnaissance missions.
Following his combat experience, Maj Gen Butchko went to the USAF Test Pilot School and subsequently flew 42 different aircraft including the F-104, F-15 and F-16. Applying his hands-on flight test knowledge and program management skills, he led the Development of the F-15E Strike Eagle Fighter, our nation’s most successful air to air fighter jet and the C-17 Airlifter the most heavily used cargo aircraft in today’s military. He believed in taking prudent risks and often challenged accepted concepts in aircraft design to expand capability and safety. These aircraft remain vital in US defense today.
His final Air Force assignment was as Commander of the Air Force Development Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, FL where he was responsible for testing of U.S. and allied non-nuclear munitions, electronic combat and supporting systems. With 724 square miles of land, Eglin is the largest air base in the Free World.
After leaving the Air Force in 1993, General Butchko became the president of the $440Mil company that operated the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for NASA and the US Air Force and oversaw the launch of 42 spacecraft. He then shifted to be Chief Operating Officer of the $580Mil company operating the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) nuclear test site, which is the size of Rhode Island located north of Las Vegas. NNSS leads our nation in scientific innovation projects. He deployed his team to assist the Japanese government in managing the Fukushima disaster.
In 2013, General Butchko finally lived up to his commitment to his wife of fifty-five years and brought Kay back to Nacogdoches where they had married. He immediately became active in the community as a volunteer. He served on the Nacogdoches Airport Commission, the Senior Citizen Center Board, SFASU STEM Advisory Board, the Red Cross Deep East Texas Board and led the effort to reestablish an office for the Red Cross in Nacogdoches.
Major General Butchko held a Bachelor of Science Degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Master's Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Auburn University. His professional schooling includes the USAF Test Pilot School, the Defense Systems Management College and Air War College.
Of his long and distinguished career in the Air Force, the civilian world and through his dedicated volunteer work, Mike was known for high integrity and expectations, quick wit, insightful and innovating thinking. He had two criteria for himself: “Have fun and make a difference.” He is remembered across the country for his leadership style of optimism, teambuilding and humor. Perhaps especially remembered for his “Butchkoisms”---those off the cuff, cut to the essence, sayings that brought humor and often “groans” to make a definitive or obscure point.
Major General Butchko is survived by his wife Kay Henry Butchko, son Benjamin Michael Butchko, his wife, Kirstin Peterson Butchko, granddaughter, Elizabeth Ann Butchko, of Colorado and grandson, Jay A. Yeats; his daughter, Kathryn Butchko Pelka, son in law, Air Force Colonel Jay E. Pelka and granddaughter, Katelyn Marie Pelka of Virginia. He leaves behind a sister, Christina Marie Butchko, of Nacogdoches and brother Andrew Butchko of Belize. He was always proud to be the son in law of Ernestine Henry.