JEFFREY MURPHY
(Nominated by Brian Tegtmeyer)
The National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base
June 24, 2011
MSgt (Ret) Jeffrey Murphy entered the Air Force Reserve in October of 1973. He served in the Reserves for twenty years before he enlisted in the United States Air Force. During his enlistment with the Reserves he was involved in many operations including two operational jump missions where he saved the lives of two men in the Mount St. Helen’s disaster. He also assisted in establishing the first Military Freefall courses in the Air Force Reserve. His desire to return to pararescue and the Air Force’s need of this critical skill caused him to enlist into full time service with the Air Force. During his service in the Air Force, he deployed on numerous occasions in support of NATO operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina as a Special Tactics team leader. He displayed exceptional knowledge and skill on twelve combat support missions that included an over water rescue effort for a downed F-16 pilot, recovery efforts for Captain Scott O’Grady, and rescue efforts following the downing of the French EBRO 33 crew. In addition, Sergeant Murphy was the key rescue planner for the first multi-national Partnership for Peace Exercise which combined rescue assets from ten different European countries and was recognized as a complete success. His diligence as the unit’s deployment manager elevated the squadron’s mobility program to a highly effective process and contributed to the Special Operations Group receiving an excellent rating for their Operational Readiness Inspection in November 1997. In his thirty-five year tour of service for our Nation’s defense, he was awarded four medals including the Meritorious Service Medal with four devices, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal. Since his retirement in 2008, he has continued working as a BAE Systems contract employee providing SME support for the SOF & PR Division, primarily assisting acquisition efforts for the Battlefield Airmen Branch and Guardian Angel weapon system which is the only non-aircraft weapon system in the Air Force.
