This months speaker:

Our November speaker is Lieutenant Colonel Gary Peppers, United States Airforce (Ret). We will also have JROTC from Oasis High School in attendance.

About Lieutenant Colonel Gary Peppers:

Lt. Col. Gary L. Peppers retired from Air Force active duty May 6, 2013, at Creech AFB, Nev. He had retired originally in February 2000 but was recalled to active duty in 2009.

Assigned to the 15th Reconnais-sance Squadron, he served as an MQ-1B Predator pilot and operations supervisor for the unit’s 24/7 operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations in southwest Asia. In 2011, Lt. Col.

Peppers deployed to NAS Sigonella in Sicily as commander of 324th Expeditionary Reconnais-sance Squadron, flying armed Predators in Operation Unified Protector, the NATO-based campaign to overthrow Gaddafi’s government in Libya.

His 30 years of active service began with his enlistment in the Army in September 1971. He rose to the rank of E-5 as a helicopter crew chief in 1972 and later became a warrant officer pilot in the UH-1 and OH-58.

Commissioned a lieutenant in the Air Force in 1978, Lt. Col. Peppers flew the F-15 Eagle, the OV-10 Bronco and the T-38 Talon over the next 21 years.

He retired with over 5,000 hours in military aircraft, including 4,000 hours in combat-coded positions and 620 combat hours.

Among his awards are Tactical Air Command’s “TAC Aircrew of Distinction” and Flying Safety Magazine’s “Well Done” awards in 1983, and the Army Aviation Association’s “Broken Wing Award” in 1975.

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Who are we?

We are a group of politically aware women sponsoring candidate forums and high profile speakers. We are active in our community supporting local students, local animal shelters, local women’s health related organizations and so much more. We are your neighbor, your sister, your friend. We are YOU! And we’d like to invite you to join us for lunch on the third Tuesday of each month at The Helm Club in The Landings on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers.

Come solo or bring a friend! Sign-in with social time at 11:30 AM. Lunch at 12 PM noon; program to follow– $20 all inclusive. Please email info@fmrwc.com the week before for reservations.