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email: wayne.beyer@d214.org
Office: 847-718-7116

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I am LtCol Wayne Beyer, a Naval Science Instructor at the D214, Wheeling High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Corps (NJROTC) program.
I was born in Chicago IL, but grew up in the small town of McHenry IL near the Wisconsin boarder. After retiring from the Marines, I moved back home to McHenry where I live today.
I have a combined 26 years of military experience: 6 years in the Air National Guard and 20 years in the Marine Corps.

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I have been married to my wife Elizabeth for 25 years.  We met at NIU the first week of my senior year.  I had just returned from attending Officer Candidate School (OCS) that summer and I had two goals going into my last year of school: 1. Graduate (obviously).  2. Don't fall in love - I was going to be a Marine Officer, I didn't have time for that!
Well... I met 1/2 my goals.
We have three AWESOME droids: Reagan (far left), Morgan (blue shirt), and Logan (green shirt).

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I attended McHenry High School and was active in Wrestling, Football, Baseball, Student Counsel and Art.

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I attended NIU and graduated with a BA in Graphic Design. I was the Vice President of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and participated in many fraternity club sports (Flag Football, Tugs, Softball) and philanthropy activities.

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I attended Naval Postgraduate School (Offsite at the Naval Academy in Annapolis MD) and earned an MS in Leadership and Human Development while I was on Active duty.  I spent the next two years teaching Leadership and mentoring Midshipman at UNSA - What an awesome tour!

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I enlisted in the Air National Guard to help pay for college.  I was a Fuel Systems Mechanic at the 126th Air Refueling Wing in Illinois, and worked on the KC-135 refueling aircraft.  I made E5 (Staff Sergeant) before I left to become a Marine Officer.
Fun Fact: I missed finals at NIU one year because I was activated for Desert Shield / Desert Storm.

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I became a Marine Officer after graduating NIU.  I attended The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico VA, and then flight training in Pensacola FL where I earned my "Wings of Gold" and selected the AH-1W SuperCobra Attack Helicopter as my primary platform.

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My career in a nutshell:
* HMLA 169 Vipers, three deployments, Camp Pendleton.
* HMLAT 303, Instructor Pilot, Camp Pendleton.
* United States Naval Academy, Company Officer and Instructor, USNA Annapolis.
* Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), Staff Officer, Camp Lemonier Djibouti Africa.
* HMLA 167 Warriors, Executive Officer, New River NC.
* Marine Corps University, Command and Staff College, Instructor and Leadership Course Director, Quantico VA.
I retired as an 05 (Lieutenant Colonel) in 2014.

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Applied Joint Warfare, adjunct instructor.
Applied Leadership, adjunct instructor.

After retiring from the USMC I taught online for Air University's Command and Staff College. They liked having a Marine Aviator teach Joint Warfare to give the Air Force Officers a different perspective.  Question? Why does the Navy's Army have its own Air Force?  Think about that...

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There was a pilot shortage, they came calling, I answered the call and became an airline pilot.  It was an interesting transition. Not only was I a helicopter pilot, but I hadn't flown in over 7 years. Nevertheless, I completed my training and shortly after I started flying the CRJ 550 (pictured above) for GoJet Airlines, a United Express carrier, COVID hit... and a year later I was making a career change.
It was a gift.
While sitting at home not flying (or getting paid), I found my dream-job opportunity as a NJROTC Instructor at Wheeling High School.

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I put the "Fan" in Fanatic when it comes to football.  Sorry Bears & Packer fans, I've always cheered for the Norsemen.
I also love College Football where I have a number of "Favorite" teams including: NIU, Navy, Notre Dame and Ohio St.
Army/Navy game? It's almost like a Holy Day of Obligation for me.
Go Navy! Beat Army!

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Love it. Nuff-said.

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I am still an artist.
Medium of choice: Watercolors.
Mostly aviation art these days.

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on the sideline with "Bill" at a Navy football game.

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There is nothing like laughing at how bad a movie is.
What can I say?  It doesn't take much to entertain me.