THE LIFE OF PHIL CONRAN
Retired Colonel Philip J. Conran was born in Hartford, Connecticut on April 13, 1937 to Wilson and Rose Conran. From 1953 – 1958, he served in the Connecticut Air National Guard before joining the ROTC while at Fordham University. Upon graduation he embarked on his career in the United States Air Force. He has been married to Margaret (Tierney) Conran, also from Connecticut, for the past 60+ years and has four children (Shane, Patrick, Kelly, Michael), eight grandchildren and one great grandchild (with one due April 2026). After serving our country for over 30 years in the USAF, he and Margaret retired and are living in Santa Barbara, CA. Over his career he was Command Pilot with over 6,500 hours in single and multiengine fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
​
​
Colonel Conran is a proud graduate of:
Fordham University - Class of 1958, BS
New Hampshire College - Class of 1977, MBA
Squadron Officers and Command and Staff Schools by Correspondence - 1963, 1971
Naval War College in Residence at Newport, RI - 1978
U.S. AIR FORCE ASSIGNMENTS
​1958: Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. (Preflight training)
1959: Spence Air Base, Multrie, GA (Primary flight training – T-34 & T-28)
1959-60: Laredo AFB, TX (Basic flight training – T-33)
1960: Stead AFB, NV (Helicopter flight training)
1960-62: Selfridge AFB, MI (Rescue helicopter pilot)
1962-65: Kindley AFB, Bermuda (Rescue Aircraft Commander)
1965-68: Occidental College, CA AFROTC (Professor of aerospace studies)
1968-69: Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai AFB, Thailand (Combat helicopter pilot)
1970-73: Hickham AFB, HI (Group Chief of Standardization & Evaluation)
1973-74: Los Angeles AFS, CA (Executive Officer – AF Satellite Control Facility)
1974-77: New Boston Satellite Tracking Station, NH (Commander)
1977-78: Naval War College, Newport, RI (Senior Service School)
1978: Fort Belvoir, VA (Defense Systems Management College – student)
1979-81: Hanscom AFB, MA (Director-Physical Security Systems for DOD)
1981-82: Eglin AFB, FL (AF Systems Command Director of Inspections)
1982-86: Arnold AFB, TN (Commander Arnold Engineering Development Center)
1986-88: London, England (Commander – European Office of Aerospace R & D)
​
Retired as a USAF Colonel in 1988
MAJOR MILITARY AWARDS & DECORATIONS
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| |  |
 | |