Silvano A. Wueschner 
Curriculum Vita

Air University, Maxwell AFB, Al.

Director, Office of History Retired

 

 

Adjunct Professor

Auburn University Montgomery
 

e-mail: silvano@wueschner.org

swueschner@gmail.com

swueshne@aum.edu

Education

Ph.D. University of Iowa
M.A. Truman State University
M.A. Pepperdine University
B.A.  Pepperdine University

Honors

1989 Hoover Scholar and U.S. Senator (Ret.) Roman Hruska Fellow
1990 Hoover Scholar and U.S. Senator (Ret.) Roman Hruska Fellow
1994 Hoover Scholar and Robert R. McCormick Chicago Tribune Foundation Fellow
Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

Publication

• "Children Learning about Social Studies First Hand" Iowa Journal of Social Studies 1 (Fall 1988)
• Ormanville: Life on the Iowa Frontier, St. Andrew’s Press 1993.
• Readings in 20^th Century Crisis, St. Andrew’s Press 1993
• American History, 1492-1877, University of Iowa Guided Correspondence Studies, 1994
• American History, 1878 - present, University of Iowa Guided Correspondence Studies, 1994.
• The Political Left in Modern History, University of Iowa Guided Correspondence Studies, 1996.
• Charting Monetary Policy for the 20th Century: Herbert Hoover and Benjamin Strong 1917 - 1927 Greenwood Press, 1999 - Nominated for the 2000 Hoover Award"
• Herbert Hoover, Great Britain and the Rubber Crisis, 1923-1926,” Essays in Economic and Business History (Winter 2000).
• "One Man's Loss is Another Man's Gain: The Growth of the Funeral Industry on the Iowa Frontier," Essays in Economic and Business History (Winter 2001)
•  “Economic Pragmatism: the Iowa Amish and the vision of communal coherence in late 20^th century America” Essays in Economic and Business History (Winter 2002).
• “The Flame of Buddhism Can Only Burn Bright If All Believers Nourish Their Own Faith,” Buddhist News Network, Feb 8, 2004.

              

·        Robin Olds: 'Triple Ace' and advocate of tactical air power

 

    by Dr. Silvano A. Wueschner
86th Airlift Wing historian

 

    18 May 2012

·         Ramstein and the three Chennault connections

by Dr. Silvano A. Wueschner
86th Airlift Wing historian

July 27, 2012

Claire Chennault is one of those larger than life characters who emerges
from the annals of Air Force history. He may not have served with the
86th but there is an enduring connection from the inveterate daredevil
pilot and founder of the Air Corps Aerial acrobatics team the Flying
Trapeze.

              
 

·        July: A month of great significance

 

July 13, 2012

by Dr. Silvano A. Wueschner
86th Airlift Wing historian

The very mention of July conjures up images of family picnics, fireworks and community celebrations to honor the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Yet, for the 86th Airlift Wing, the month also holds significance.


                  

·        War and peace: A historical perspective

by Dr. Silvano Wueschner
86th Airlift Wing historian

June 15, 2012

In November 1989 when the Berlin Wall and the Warsaw Pact came crashing down, many people expected a peace dividend. I was reminded of that yearning for peace some years ago when I conducted a seminar for young Airmen at Balad.
 

·     From Cold War to Desert Storm: Ramstein and the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing

by Dr. Silvano Wueschner
86th Airlift Wing Historian

May 3, 2012

In 1989, the world watched with fascination as one country after another
in Eastern Europe began to throw off the shackles of communism. On Nov. 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall started to come down amid cheers and
spontaneous celebrations.

·   The history of Ramstein Air Base

by Dr. Silvano A. Wueschner
86th Airlift Wing historian

March 16, 2012  

 

·        Airlift reaches 70 year anniversary

by Airman 1st Class Trevor Rhynes
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Today, the 86th Airlift Wing hits its 70 year mark at Ramstein.

January 13, 2012

 

• 86th Airlift Wing historian: Connecting past, present, future  October 3, 2013

Story and photoby Airman 1st Class Michael Stuart 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

History is the record of past events and is important to the future of a society. History affects what we do on a daily basis.  Some may say the lack of knowledge of how and what happened in the past can be the reason history repeats itself - or should one say patterns and behaviors repeat themselves.

 

                                                           

 

 

 ·        75th Anniversary: Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941

by Dr. Silvano Wueschner

Air University Office of History

December 6, 2016
 

  ·  Maxwell and the Advent of High Altitude Bombing in Europe  during World War II

 

by Dr. Silvano Wueschner

Air University Office of History

August 18, 2017

 

   ·  Air University historian supports major regional Civil Air Patrol Event...

        By Dr. Silvano Wueschner, Air University Directorate of History

      Published March 21, 2018

 

 

·  The ‘Declaration of Independence’ for tactical airpower.

    By Dr. Silvano Wueschner

   Air University Office of History

   July 16, 2018

 

· Operation Tidal Wave: heroic but ineffective

    By Dr. Silvano Wueschner

   Air University Office of History

    Sep 6, 2018

 

   ·  Operation Argument (‘Big Week’): The beginning of the end of the        German Luftwaffe

    By Dr. Silvano Wueschner, Air University History Office / Published February 11, 2019

   ·  The ‘Transportation Plan’: Preparing for the Normandy invasion

    By Dr. Silvano Wueschner, Air University History Office / Published March 25, 2019

 

 

  · Leid und Freud/Sorrow and Joy: 2018 Amazon.com

 

 

  · Readings in 20th Century Crisis: 2018 Amazon.com

 

 

  · Cradle of Airpower: An Illustrated History of Maxwell Air Force Base,      1918-2018

Air University Press 2018

 

Book Reviews

• Ghost Settlement on the Prairie: A Biography of Thurman Kansas by Joseph Hicky, Annals of Iowa (Winter 1995)
• As Ding Saw Hoover by Ding Darling, Annals of Iowa (Summer 1996)
• The Life of Herbert Hoover, Master of Emergencies, 1917-1918, by George Nash, Annals of Iowa (Winter 1998).
• The Money Interest and the Public Interest: American Monetary Thought 1912 - 1970 by Perry G. Mehrling, International Business Library Review (March 2000)
• The New Deal: America's Response to the Great Depression by Ronald Edsforth Historian (Fall 2001)
• Frontier Swashbuckler: The Life & Legend of John Smith T by Dick Steward, Annals of Iowa, (Fall 2001)
• Der Richtungsstreit in der Fruehen Amerikanischen Wirtschaftslehre und der Einfluss der Deutschen Historischen Schule, by Gisela Schmalz Journal of American History (March 2002)
• The Catholic Church in Mississippi, 1911-1984: A History, by Michael Namorato, The Catholic Historical Review (April 2002)
• Amerikanische Träume: Die Kultur der Vereinigten Staaten in der Zeit des New Deal(American dreams:  The culture of the United States in the time of the New Deal). By Richard Nate, Journal of American History – 2004

 

Papers/Panels

• "Robert Owen the Manager" Phi Alpha Theta Regional Meeting Spring 1987, Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri
• "The Independent Regulatory Agencies and Executive Reorganization 1920 - 1937: A Question of Control" Spring 1988 Phi Alpha Theta Regional Meeting. Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri.
• "Medicine on the Iowa Frontier" University of Iowa Medical Society Fall 1992. Iowa City, IA.
• "Community Development on the Iowa Frontier" Phi Alpha Theta, Truman State University, Fall 1995.
• "Letters of Obscure Men" Faculty Colloquia, William Penn College, Fall 1996
• Chair/Commentator "Environmental History," Conference of Missouri Historians, Truman State University, April 12,  1996.
• Chair/Commentator "Town Development in Frontier Iowa,"  State Historical Expo, Iowa Historical Society, June 15, 1996, Des Moines, Ia.
• "East and West: Gender in Ormanville, Iowa" Northern Great Plains History Conference, Sioux Falls, SD. September 30 - October 3, 1998.
• "The Failure of the Puritan State" Conference on Religion and Society, William Penn College October 19, 1998.
• "Ottumwa, the First Fifty Years" Wapello County Historical Society, January 1999.
• "Herbert Hoover, Great Britain and the Rubber Crisis, 1923-1926" Economic & Business Historical Society Conference, April 8 - 10, 1999, San Antonio, Texas.
• Commentator - Session: Civil Rights, Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Convention December 26 - 29, 1999 Tampa Florida. 
• Missouri Valley History Conference, March 9 -11, 2000 Commentator - Paper Session sponsored by Phi Alpha Theta.
• 2000 Organization of American Historians Conference March 30 - April 2, St. Louis, Missouri, Facilitator/Presenter "Using History To Teach Critical Analytical Thinking"
• 2000 Economic & Business Historical Society Annual Conference, (Silver Anniversary Meeting), April 27 - 29, San Diego "One Man's Loss is Another Man's Gain: The Growth of the Funeral Industry on the Iowa Frontier"
• 2000 Economic & Business Historical Society Annual Conference, (Silver Anniversary Meeting), April 27 - 29, San Diego Commentator/Chair - Session: The World of Business: Past, Present, and Future

·  2000 Bradley University Prague-Berlin Seminar (June 26 - July 8) conducted at the Prague University of Economics and Europäische Akademie Berlin. (participated as commentator)

·    “Economic Pragmatism: the Iowa Amish and the vision of communal coherence in late 20^th century America” Economic Business Historical Society, Albany, New York, April 26 – 28, 2001.

·    2001 Economic & Business Historical Society Annual Conference, April 26 - 28, San Diego Commentator/Chair - Session: "Where do Banks Come From? What Do Banks Do? 

·    2001 “Economic Pragmatism: the Iowa Amish and the vision of communal coherence in late 20^th century America” Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

·    Phi Alpha Theta, Biennial Conference, San Antonio, Texas December 27 -30, 2001, Commentator, Session: Modern Europe.

·    “Opening the Door of Opportunity: Herbert Hoover, Minorities and the question of economic and social advance, 1925 – 1933.” Economic & Business Historical Society Annual Conference, April 27-29, 2002, Chicago 

·    Panelist, Herbert Hoover Symposium XIV, George Fox University, October 25, 2003, “Interpretations on the Causes of the Great Depression.”

·   Commentator, Session: “Early Developments in Stocks and Shareholder Liability,” Economic & Business Historical Society Annual Conference, April 2004 Anaheim, California 

• “USAF-Cap Controversy: Competing Visions of Administration,” Economic & Business Historical Society Annual Conference, April 28-30, High Point, 2005.
• “A-76: The Conversion of Recurring Commercial Activities To or From In-House, Contractor or Intensive Support Agreement Performance,” Economic and Business Historical Society Annual Conference, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, 27-29 April, 2006.

·         “Lister Hill: The economic impact of interwar military spending on the greater Maxwell Community, 1925-1935,” Economic & Business Historical Society Annual Conference, April 17-19, Montgomery, 2008.

• Appalachian State University, Spring Third Annual Conference in World History and Economics, Government and Progress: A World of Experience:  Session A
  Defense, Economy, and History, Commentator. April 26, 2008.
• Commentator/Chair - Session: “20th Century Crises and Economic Policy” Economic & Business Historical Society Annual Conference, Manchester England, May 29-31, 2014.

Special Projects

• Ramstein - Contributed research to the Special Publication celebrating 60 years in Rhineland Pfalz
• Developed a trifold to showcase the accomplishments of the 86th AW both an English and German Version.
• Participated in the Media Day preceding the 60th Anniversary
• Researched and developed a broader perspective on the origins of the USAF presence in Rhineland-Pfalz; why this area was selected; Stars and  Stripes used the analysis in a video as well as the print version of the Article (Stars and Stripes Interview). Interviewed on Radio; provided background material to the BBC.
• Interviewed on Antenna Radio Kaiserslautern about the Special US-German relationship (in German).

• Interviewed by Armed Forces Network– spotlight on Historians. (24 Sep 2013)

• Interviewed by 86 AW PA on the Office of the 86 AW Historian (October 2013)

• Networked with Wolfgang Toenissman,Atlantic Akademie about presenting programs discussing Americans/Germans on economic, political, and social issues. The objective is to build a bridge and effective working relationship between the American Military Community and the larger German Community.

• Wrote 7 articles for the Kaiserslautern American: The history of Ramstein Air Base (03/16/12); From Cold War to Desert Storm: Ramstein and the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing (05/03/12); Robin Olds: 'Triple Ace' and advocate of tactical air power (5/18/12); War and Peace: a historical perspective (6/15/12); July: A month of great significance (7/13/12); Ramstein and the three Chennault Connections, (7/27/12);  Veterans Day (9/11/12).

•  Interviewed by FORUM Magazine November 2013 on Kennedy Assassination

•  Continually interacted with a member of the cultural committee of the Rheinland-Pfalz Parliament on the establishment of the Peace Institute at Landau University in Rheinland-Pfalz.

•  Interviewed (60 minutes) by SWR for Rheinland-Pfalz Tag to provide historical background on US Forces in the Rheinland-Palatinate.

•  Provided special exhibit for Rehinland-Pfalz Tag showcasing the U.S. Air Force in the Ramstein area over a 60 year period.  Provided guided Tour.

•  Provided research for the community of Ditingen, Baden-Wuertemberg to enable them to dedicate a memorial to Army Air Corps Pilot Lt. Priesley Cooper who was shot down over Ditiengen 22 February 1945.  Participated in memorial dedication on 25 September 2015.

•  Provided research for the British Magazine After the Battle to identify the location of the execution of two British Officers (Great Escape) 29 Mar 1944. Great Escape Article   Documents

• Provided lecture about the history and purpose of Ramstein Air Base to Gutenberg University (Mainz) students.

 

AU Special Projects

 

• assisted the Air University  director of history  in developing the Back to the Future Paper setting the foundation for developing Air University as the Intellectual Center of the Air Force, for the AU Commander - (Lt Gen John Regni).

• Served on the Air University JROTC 2013 vision panel (July 16-18)

• Interacted with internal and external officials such as Historic Preservation Officers to document historic Housing in a continuing attempt to have area 12 of Maxwell AB, the area where Black troops were housed, added to the National Historic Register.

 

Media

• Stars and Stripes Interview
• Kaiserslautern American
• Armed Forces Network
• FORUM  (have to go to search engine and input Wueschner) ( http://www.magazin-forum.de/news/politik-das-war/das-ende-von-%E2%80%9Ecamelot%E2%80%9C)
• Interviewed (60 minutes) by SWR for Rheinland-Pfalz Tag - in German- to provide historical background on US Forces in the Rheinland-Palatinate.

   

Awards

 

·  Certificate of Appreciation 2010 (321 AEW Baghdad)

·  Global War on Terror Medal (Iraq)

·  NATO Medal 2013 (451 AEW Kandahar)

·  Exemplary Civilian Service Medal 2013 (451 AEW Kandahar)

·  AFCENT Outstanding History Award AEF 1/2 2014

·  USAF Excellence in Contingency History Award 2014

·  AETC Heritage Award for 2017

 

Membership

·       Economic Business Historical Society (Past President 2007 - 2008)

·       Phi Alpha Theta (Faculty Advisor – University of Iowa, 1992 – 1995

·       Organization of American Historians

·       American Historical Association

·       Wapello County Historical Society

Academic/Community Activities

• Faculty Council, William Penn College (1996-2000)(Chair 2000-2001)
• Management Enrollment Team, William Penn College (1996-2002)
• Judiciary Board, William Penn College (1998-2002)
• Public Representative Medical Assistance Advisory Council State of Iowa (1996-2002)
• Member Welfare Reform Advisory Group, State of  Iowa (1999-2002)
• Child Healthcare Task Force, Iowa, (1998 resulted in the Hawkeye Bill, now law)
• Wapello County Juvenile Accountability Board (2001 -2003 )

 

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Military Education

 

USMC DI School

USMC Staff NCO Academy

USMC Basic School

USAF Historian Development School

USAF Squadron Officer School    Maxwell AFB          2005

Air Power History Seminar,      Washington DC            2005

Corporate Leadership Course,   Civil Air Patrol            2006

AEF Pre-Deployment Training, Maxwell AFB              2006/2009

Unit Commanders Course,        Civil Air Patrol             2007

Leadership Potential Seminar,  Office of  Personnel Management (Shepherdstown WV), August 2007

Aerospace Officer School Pensacola, Fla 2008/09/10