Stew Campbell of Datamax Inc. (Little Rock, Arkansas) has been nominated as a finalist for our Outstanding Veteran Award, which will be announced at The Cannata Report’s 40th Anniversary Awards & Charities Gala. Campbell, a U.S. Air Force veteran, celebrated 25 years with Datamax this past March. Mike Stramaglio of Stramaglio Consulting, a member of our Veterans Committee that selects the nominees, submitted Campbell for consideration.
Barry Simon, Datamax president (pictured above, at left, with Campbell), commented: “We are so proud to have Stew nominated for this prestigious award. Stew joined the United States Air Force in late 1979 and retired at the end of 1999, offering 20 years of dedicated service to the military. He has brought that same level of commitment and service to our organization. As the head of our internal IT [information technology] staff, Stew utilizes many of the same disciplines and problem-solving skills he learned in the military to our IT operations here, and has done an outstanding job embracing the ever-evolving world of IT.”
Stew, for which of our military branches did you volunteer, and how long did you serve? What was your motivation for joining the military?
SC: I volunteered for the U.S. Air Force and served from December 26, 1979, to December 31, 1999—20 years and four days. My reason for choosing the service was because of my father and uncles, who all served in the military. So I figured, ‘What the heck!’ and joined up. I was stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base starting in 1980, then received PCS [Permanent Change of Station] orders to Germany from 1984 to 1988, before returning to Little Rock.
What responsibilities did your Military Occupational Specialty entail?
SC: For the first 16 years, I was a crew chief responsible for maintaining C-130 E/H aircraft. For the last four years, I served as the IT Manager for the 53rd Airlift Squadron. I had decided to have a career in IT when I retired, and that is where Datamax came in.
A Lockheed C-130E Hercules aircraft similar to the planes that Campbell helped to maintain.
What did you like doing best, and what were you not so happy to do, if anything?
SC: What I liked best was going wherever my aircraft went—I never had a bad experience. I always had fun wherever Uncle Sam sent me. There was nothing I did not like.
What were the most important things you learned in the military, and is any of it useful in your employment today?
SC: Teamwork! We all supported each other and got the job done in a timely manner. The biggest thing is I’m a person; if you want me to do something, just move out of my way and I’ll get it done or I’ll teach someone how to do it the right way!
How difficult was it to find employment upon separation, and how did you discover the copier industry as a possible employer?
SC: About three months before I was discharged, IT headhunters started calling me. They had a contract with Datamax, so I worked for the contractor for five months. After that, I was hired directly by Datamax, and I’ve been with them for 25 years.
For young Stew, military service ran in the Campbell family.
We understand that making the transition to civilian employment has become very difficult. What advice would you give to a fellow military veteran leaving the service today?
SC: When I hear of a person exiting the military, the first thing I tell them is make sure you have your medical record, and be patient. There are jobs out there for you. It just takes time, and if you need help, call me. I may not have an answer, but I can point you to someone that can help.
During the war in Iraq, where was your unit based, and how long did you serve in that theater of conflict?
SC: We were stationed in Saudi Arabia flying C-130’s as part of a joint aircraft group. We were on call from ground troops calling in air support for a period of four months. We were taken under fire by Scud missiles and dealt with anti-aircraft fire. As they say, this is war.
Thank you for your service, Stew. Is there anything you would like to add?
SC: I spent 20 years of my life in the military. The first four years, I did a lot of aircraft maintenance, and I wanted out. I had signed up for four years, and my flight chief sat me down and said you need to re-enlist. I really wanted out. My father said to re-enlist as well as my uncle. When you do re-enlist, you get an $8,000 bonus. My father and uncle said if you re-up (it’s the term we used), you will have 10 years, and that may be the smartest thing you can do. I did and am so happy I did. I have been out 10 years. Those of us who served together still see each other. The military is a big family. I was a crew chief for 16½ years. When Desert Storm (War in Iraq) kicked off—we prepared four planes to get there—all the training we did was for eventual deployment. To me, it was like a great adventure.
We thank you for your service to our country, Stew Campbell!
Editor: Campbell’s DD 214 (military discharge) highlights awards he received during his 20 years of service to our country:
- Air Force Achievement Award Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal with one OLC (Oak Leaf Cluster)
- Air Force Longevity Service Award with three OLCs (indicates the number of times this award was presented)
- Humanitarian Service Medal with three OLCs
- Kuwait Liberation Medal
There are others as well, such as a Good Conduct Medal with five OLCs and a Unit/Award for Valor with three OLCs.
