Board Members

CHARLES S. HAEFLINGER
Mentor Emeritus

Chuck Haeflinger began his US Army career two weeks after his 18th birthday, enlisting in the Army ROTC program at Loyola University in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. During his senior year, the ROTC Department cadre designated Chuck a Distinguished Military Student. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, he graduated the Army’s Infantry Officer Basic Course, before attending flight school. Haef‘s assignments as a helicopter pilot took him overseas to Viet Nam and Honduras.

The majority of his Army assignments were in the realms of operations and training, always focused on increasing readiness posture. During the early-1980‘s, Haef established a Drill Sergeant Academy; the first class graduated nine Drill Sergeants. While the Operations Officer of a newly-activated aviation battalion, his proactivity and innovation sparked progressive training programs that accelerated this new command of 69 helicopters and their crews to a Fully-Mission Capable (FMC) status within 24 months, even though the Army’s standard combat readiness plan allowed 36 months. During Operation Desert Shield, he organized 13 “Quick Fix” MOS qualification courses, graduating 159 graduates for Quick Reaction Force (QRF) units despite rapidly-shifting priorities. Haef and his staff managed an education budget of $2.1 million dollars annually, and impressively increased the Duty MOS Qualification (DMOSQ) Rate by 3.9% within twelve months. Haef’s Brigade S-3 staff conceived and conducted the first collective Combat Service Support (CSS) lane training scenarios for Observer/Controller Qualification Course curriculum within the 13 states of the US Sixth Army.

After graduating the Army’s Command & General Staff College, Chuck completed the prestigious DOD Battle Staff Course in residency. Haef also finished the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] Civil Disturbance Course, and earned a Observer/Controller certification for Lanes Training Exercises (LTX).

Lieutenant Colonel Haeflinger proudly retired in 1998. During his 32-year career, Haef was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, five Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, and the Republic of Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

Haef graduated the Veterans For Justice Boot Camp, sponsored the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. Ha was since served as the Senior Veteran Mentor for both Veteran Treatment Courts within California’s Inland Empire. Haef enjoys collaborating in ”serving those who served.”