YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Since 1997, Maj. John Boccieri has flown to many parts of the globe and has met a wide variety of individuals as a C-130 pilot. However, it was his latest role that gave him the chance to meet, work and play - basketball, that is - with the President of the United States. The 24-month long Washington, D.C. stint was not at Andrews Air Force Base or one of the other many military bases in that area but at the U.S. Capitol Building. Major Boccieri recently returned to Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio to resume his duties as an aircraft commander with the 910th Airlift Wing's 773rd Airlift Squadron after two years as a United States Congressman.
During his term as the representative for Ohio's 16th district, which began in January 2009, Major Boccieri was not able to maintain his duties as a pilot and aircraft commander due to the heavy demands of his elected position, but was able to continue his career as a Reservist by working at Headquarters Air Force Reserve in Washington, D.C. In fact, his orders to work at headquarters came directly from Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr, commander of Air Force Reserve Command.
"I have flown all over the world with the Air Force, but General Stenner wanted to utilize me at the Pentagon while I learned my job at the Capitol," said Major Boccieri.
Although the pilot turned federal elected official was hesitant to give up his position on the flight deck of an Air Force Reserve aircraft, his seat in the House of Representatives meant that was exactly what he would have to do, at least while he was a congressman.
After receiving his assignment, Major Boccieri fulfilled his military duties in the offices of Strategic Planning and Strategic Communications.
"Our job was communicating (on behalf of the military) with Congress and elected officials. It was unique for me to wear both hats (as a Servicemember and a legislator)," he said. "As my duties as a congressman permitted, I was able to work at the Pentagon."
Even though he was not able to fly aboard the 910th's C-130's during his congressional term, his elected position did allow him to fly aboard one of the world's most recognized aircraft several times.
"During the first few months of my term, I had the chance to fly aboard Air Force One with President Obama. He offered me the chance to fly the plane, and although I am pretty sure he was joking, I politely declined, saying, 'Mr. President, I am not qualified to fly something this big," said Major Boccieri with a laugh.
While he did not climb behind the controls of the famed aircraft, he did have the chance to visit the flight deck and came away with a strong impression of the presidential air transport's Airmen.
"That crew represents us extremely well. I am very proud to have that mission in the Air Force," he said.
In addition to flying aboard the presidential aircraft, being a congressman gave him a different perspective on the familiar world of the Air Force Reserve. In June 2010, he met with Servicemembers from the 910th Airlift Wing after they returned from their historic oil-dispersing aerial spray mission in the wake of the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The Citizen Airmen presented a "From the Field" briefing to groups of Congressional staff members, including those from then-Congressman Boccieri's office, on the topic of their unique role in battling the worst environmental disaster in the country's history. After the group briefings, Maj. Boccieri and his legislative colleague, Congressman Tim Ryan, representing Ohio's 17th district, met with the team from Youngstown Air Reserve Station for detailed talks about the 910th's aerial spray mission.
"I was able to help other members of congress understand the (aerial spray) mission and the importance of that mission continuing," said Maj. Boccieri. "It was a tremendous opportunity to be in a position to be able to work for (the 910th)."
Maj. Boccieri's congressional term also gave him unique opportunities seldom afforded to most people. Among those was the chance to bring his family to a picnic on the grounds of a certain famous residence in Washington, D.C.
"My family and I were invited to a summertime cookout at the White House. I was walking across the lawn with my son on my shoulders and the President walked over and gave him a high five, that's a pretty memorable experience," said Maj. Boccieri.
The major said he also had the chance to play in at least one of President Obama's famed White House basketball games.
While being a member of congress gave him opportunities that most Americans only see or hear about through the media, Major Boccieri said those things only occurred because he decided to serve the people of his district. This is something that he feels he was fortunate to be able to do and a responsibility he took very seriously.
"The hardest vote I ever made was to continue the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said, his face turning serious.
The decision to keep our nation's Servicemembers on a faraway battlefield was something that weighed heavily on his mind.
"I tossed and turned at night, thinking back to missions where we flew wounded and fallen soldiers out of Iraq, thinking about the vote to keep our troops there, knowing some of them might not come home," said Major Boccieri.
The former congressman said making that vote was harder than any combat mission he ever flew.
"The Air Force provides great resources and training for aircraft commanders to help them make the decisions they need to. There isn't any training for members of congress to make the decision to send our nation's greatest assets into harm's way," he said.
However, a common thread between members of the military and elected officials is the hope to leave a situation in at least a little bit better shape than when you got there.
"I am one of only 10,600 Americans that have served in Congress throughout the history of our country," said Maj. Boccieri. "When I started in congress, we were in one of the most difficult times in our country since the Great Depression. We are starting to come out of it but we still have a long way to go."
During his term in congress, the major's military training helped him along the way.
"One of the things I relied heavily upon during my time in congress was the leadership training I received from the Air Force," he said.
Major Boccieri recalled the advice an instructor gave during a military course he attended during his career.
"He said 'The decisions you make as a leader may not be the most popular but they are the right thing to do.' That is the same for being a Servicemember, a congressman or even a father," said Maj. Boccieri with a slight smile.
Another similarity between Servicemembers and those in public life is what families must endure while the member carries out the oath they have sworn to complete.
"In both military life and public life, my family serves with me. Whether it is the difficulty of being separated by a deployment or having to hear that negative piece of press in the news about the way you voted on a certain bill, they are always there for me and I am grateful for that," he said with a large smile.
Major Boccieri has been married to his wife, Stacey for 14 years. They have five children, ranging from 10 years old to three months old. For more than the last decade, he has worked in the political arenas of Columbus, Ohio and Washington, D.C. While he will not rule out returning to the life of a legislator sometime in the future, he is currently looking forward to spending time with his family at home and working out of Youngstown Air Reserve Station.
Just two years after he left the flight line of YARS for the chambers of the U.S. Capitol, Major Boccieri is preparing to return to what he enjoys most... flying. Even as he reflects on his time in a seat on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Maj. Boccieri now turns his attention to a seat he is re-familiarizing himself with... the Aircraft Commander's chair on the flight deck of C-130H2 Hercules tactical cargo transport aircraft.
"Between my time in state government and in D.C., I have been on the political turnpike for 12 years," he said. "It feels good to pull off into a rest area. I'm pleased to be back doing something I'm highly trained to do and fundamentally love doing."
As Maj. John Boccieri trades the suit and tie of a U.S. Congressman for the flight suit of an Air Force Reserve Citizen Airman, he may not know some aspects of his future. But, he does know he is flying ahead to meet that future as a pilot on the flight deck of a 910th Airlift Wing C-130.