Former Military Aide to President Reagan.
   Steve Chealander enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1964 and worked in Security Police from 1964 to 1968, including one year in Vietnam. After returning from Vietnam and separating from the Air Force, Steve received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and did graduate studies at the University of Utah. He was commissioned as an officer in the U. S. Air Force in 1973 and Steve worked as a fighter pilot, instructor pilot and flight examiner in the T-38, F4, F5 and the F16. Steve was selected to the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds in 1981 and flew with the demonstration team through 1985. In 1986, Steve was selected as the Military Aide to President Ronald Reagan. In this role, he carried “the Football”.  He held this position through the end of the Reagan Administration at which time he moved to Williams Air Force Base, Arizona as an F-5 Fighter Squadron Commander. Steve was an F16 Fighter Squadron Commander at Luke AFB in 1989 and was named the Assistant Deputy Commander of Operations for the F16 Tactical Fighter Wing in 1990. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1991 as a Colonel after 22 years of military service.

After retiring, Steve was hired as a pilot for American Airlines (AA) and during his 15 1/2 years with AA, he flew as a pilot crew member on the DC10, MD80, F100, and B737; he was a Captain on the F100 and B737. Following his retirement from American Airlines in 2006, Steve served on the National Transportation Safety Board. The Honorable Steven R. Chealander was sworn in January 3, 2007.
 

Following his retirement from the NTSB, Steve was hired by Airbus Americas, Inc. as Vice President-Training and Flight Operations Support at the Airbus Training Center. He held this position until December 2012 when he retired from Airbus.  Most noteworthy was the procurement of and his participation in the dedication ceremony of the Boeing 707, tail number #27000, which served as Air Force One and is now on exhibit at the Reagan library. He also had the privilege and honor to speak on behalf of Mrs. Nancy Reagan at the dedication ceremony of the Air Force C-17 christened “The Spirit of Ronald Reagan.” Steve was the keynote speaker at the 2008 celebration of President Reaganʼs birthday and placed a wreath at the Presidentʼs gravesite on behalf of President George W. Bush.

Steve has been married for 44 years to his wonderful wife Becky and they are the proud parents of two grown daughters, the proud grandparents of three granddaughters and a grandson. Becky and Steve live in Goodyear, Arizona.