ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
Much has changed around Andrews in the past forty years, but there has been one constant: Richard Pfleiderer.
He is a Baltimore, Md. native with nearly forty years of service and dedication to the U.S. Navy, both as a Sailor and civilian. He works as a Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic Site-Washington Navy Calibration Lab precision measurement equipment mechanic, and has seen it all during his tenure at Andrews.
"I've worked onboard Andrews since November 1970 when I was assigned here as my first duty station as an enlisted Navy electronics technician -- a stroke of luck to be so close to home," said Mr. Pfleiderer. "I spent my entire enlistment here and never stepped onto a ship or went to Vietnam -- my second stroke of luck. "
Mr. Pfleiderer completed his obligated four years of service as a Petty Officer Third Class during the recession in early 1974. "I was very fortunate to be hired as a federal employee during a civilian hiring boom which, by another stroke of luck, was happening at that time," said Mr. Pfleiderer. "My military division chief called me and encouraged me to apply for the vacancy I had created upon my departure from the Navy. They needed someone with my skills. I got the job and began working in the same electronics shop and with the same Sailors I had been with in the Navy. It was a surreal experience."
In his nearly 40 years of service, Mr. Pfleiderer witnessed many changes along the way. "The three most notable changes I've witnessed on Andrews since 1970 are the new commissary and exchange shopping areas, the enlisted dorms, and family housing --I've seen them morph several times from old to new. I can remember when all of the area where the commissary, Four Seasons, exchange and credit union are now located was a forest. The old commissary building is still standing at the corner of Arkansas and Arnold Avenues. It looks like a warehouse or something. The exchange used to be housed in the one-story building next to the East Fitness Center." He added, "I've been in houses with more square footage than that! Shopping there was shoulder to shoulder."
Mr. Pfleiderer reminisced and recalled the Airman's Pool which was located in what is now the grassy area next to the barbeque rib shack on the east side of base, and said how the Headquarters building, affectionately known as the mini-Pentagon just inside the West Gate now called Bldg. 1535, used to house the base movie theater.
"The brick building which is now the Airman's Attic used to be the Navy Galley. These are just a sampling of how much the base has changed through the years." Mr. Pfleiderer is pleased with the current improvements throughout the installation. "I'm pleasantly surprised at the transformation that has, and is, taking place on the east side of the base lately with so many buildings being constructed, demolished or renovated," said Mr. Pfleiderer. "Having worked on the east side for so long, I always considered it to be the long, lost, forgotten part of the base; no longer!"
As for Mr. Pfleiderer, did he as a petty officer ever anticipate working here for 40 years? "I didn't initially expect to remain in the position for long -- only until I found something in the private sector," said Mr. Pfleiderer. "But, I'm so glad that didn't happen because it has been a wonderfully rewarding and nearly ideal experience. I've told many people during my career that I come to work to be entertained as well as for the satisfaction of providing a service to the military. I find myself shaking my head in amazement at how many times during my career I've found myself in the right place at the right time."