Jeff DeVore’s service journey began in 1992 when he joined
the United States Air Force. For his career, he piloted C-130 cargo aircraft
across the globe, accumulating over 4,400 flight hours, including more than 850
in combat. His leadership roles included commanding the 30th Airlift Squadron
in Wyoming, the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at a forward-deployed
location, the 386th Expeditionary Operations Group at another forward-deployed
location, and Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina. DeVore’s service took
him to numerous countries, where he played pivotal roles in missions supporting
the United States Department of Defense and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO). His deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi
Arabia, Bosnia, Kosovo, South Africa, Morocco, Kenya, and Panama were marked by
courage and dedication.
However, DeVore’s valor truly shone in combat, where he flew
missions supporting critical battles, including the Battle of Fallujah, the
Battle of Ramadi, and the Battle of Basra. In Afghanistan, he contributed to
the effort during the Battle of Shewan and the counterinsurgency in the
northern provinces. His combat airdrops under enemy fire in Iraq and
Afghanistan, which inserted Coalition Special Forces and equipment into
challenging areas, were instrumental in the fight against the Taliban and
al-Qaeda.
He said in an interview that one key to his success was to
find purpose in his service.
“In the military, we need to know our purpose, why
we’re doing what we’re doing, and how that affects people. It gives us a focus
and a mission,” said DeVore, “If we don’t have a purpose for the
things we do, then we shouldn’t be doing them.”
For his exceptional bravery, he received numerous accolades,
including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, and the Air
Force Combat Action Medal, among many others. He was also recognized with the
Colonel Joe W. Jackson Award and the General Robert “Dutch” Huyser Award for
outstanding contributions during combat operations.
After retiring from active duty in 2017 with the rank of
Colonel, DeVore continued his dedication to service by working with Amazon
Logistics. He and his wife Michele have been married for 30 years, reside in
the West Valley, and have two children. DeVore remains an active community
member, supporting veterans and representing Amazon Warriors in the 2021 and
2022 Phoenix Veterans Day Parades.