New instructor lands in ROTC program

Alestle Staff Report

This fall SIUE Air Force ROTC Detachment 207 has a new professor of aerospace studies - Lt. Col. Julie Delespesse.

This career Air Force intelligence officer has spent a lot of time on bases in the United States and overseas, but she is no stranger to college campuses.

Delespesse attended the University of California-Riverside, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in French literature. She also studied overseas, including time in Mexico and a year in France at the University of Bordeaux. She earned a master's degree in French literature at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and did postgraduate work at the University of California-San Diego at La Jolla in Spanish literature.

She joined the Air Force and became an officer after college through officer training school.

"I joined on the recommendation of a friend who was in the Air Force," Delespesse said. "That decision was pivotal, as my life in the Air Force is full of challenges and adventure."

Her assignments have included teaching at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., working with the SR-71 "Blackbird" reconnaissance planes at Beale Air Force Base in California around the time of the Gulf War. She was also director of operations of the 612th Air Intelligence Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.

Overseas NATO assignments have been common in her career, including time in Izmir, Turkey, at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium, and more recently in Brussels, Belgium, at the political headquarters of NATO. There she worked for the U.S. military representative to the NATO Military Committee, supporting the air war over the former Yugoslavia.

Life is not all work, however, as this military leader is also a wife and mother. Her husband of 13 years, Terry, is a professional chef and native of Belgium. The two met while she was on assignment in Mons. They have a 9-year-old daughter, Danielle, who is starting fourth grade.

"Team Delespesse," as Delespesse calls her family, recently moved to Fenton, Mo.

"We really like St. Louis," she said.

In addition to her love of language and literature, Delespesse is a self-described health nut.

"I love all sports, especially skiing," she said.

Her pet peeve is tobacco use and smoking in particular. She said she'd like to see everyone adopt the motto "Too Smart to Smoke" and "Too Smart to Start."

Delespesse is excited about working at SIUE.

"The student body is a very nice group of people," she said.

As for her new job, she takes her mission of training future leaders for the U.S. Air Force very seriously.

"ROTC is a great opportunity for young folks," Delespesse said. "My job is crucial as I have a lot of personal influence in determining which students become Air Force officers. It's a great opportunity for me to help the Air Force by ensuring the right folks get the job."

For more information about the Air Force ROTC, call 650-3180 or stop by Alumni Hall, Room 3340........