In 1947, Joe Shelala received an honorable discharge after serving in the Army Air Corps, a precursor to the United States Air Force.  Like many veterans of his generation, Joe used the skills from his training to create a successful career for himself.

An airman at heart, Joe naturally gravitated towards the nascent commercial aviation industry; however, the abundance of military-trained pilots following World War II limited his opportunities.  With a wife and plans to start a family, he ne