Faculty Member Returns from Afghanistan

Gary Zickefoose, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Technology, has returned to the Fairmont State campus following a year-long deployment in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

During the initial portion of his tour of duty, Zickefoose worked as a liaison officer with the 82nd Airborne Division at the Bagram Army Airfield. He later worked in Kabul, Afghanistan, 100 miles south of Bagram, as a Resident Engineer.

Zickefoose has been a faculty member at Fairmont State since 1984. He is a Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Civil Engineering degree, both from North Carolina State University. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from West Virginia University. He is married to Jeanne Zickefoose, who is a teacher at Nutter Fort Elementary School in Harrison County.

Zickefoose, now a Lieutenant Colonel, started his career in the military as a member of the ROTC at NCSU. His father, the late Marble Zickefoose, retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, and both of his sons currently serve in the armed services. His son Greg is a pilot and Captain in the U.S. Air Force and his son Brian is a Captain with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Jeanne's father, Hank Ellis, is retired from the U.S. Navy Reserve as Lieutenant Commander.

During the course of his military service, Zickefoose served in various leadership capacities with the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, the West Virginia National Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Zickefoose spent his most recent tour of duty helping to rebuild Afghanistan, specifically construction and reconstruction of buildings, roads and utilities.

When he was called to report to active duty in February 2007, he had an idea of who he would be working for and what he would be doing, but he had no idea where he would be serving in Afghanistan.

"The best part of the experience was working with the local people," Zickefoose said. "I had the opportunity to experience, on a personal level, their culture and to learn that their family and their extended family are very important to them. Without the support from the extended family, many families could not survive. Afghanistan is an Islamic Republic. Their religion influences their culture and their daily life, at home and at work."

Zickefoose said his impression of the Afghani people he met was that they were hospitable and hard working. As U.S. citizens, Zickefoose said, it is easy to take our freedom and our standard of living for granted.

"It was an honor and a privilege to serve, and the fact that we can live in peace, here in West Virginia, is, in large part, because we live in a country and a state, which allow us to be free -- free to pursue our dreams, without threat of violence," Zickefoose said.