Recent inductee into the AFPAA Hall of Fame, Jack H. Oswald, age 90, of El Dorado Hills, Calif., passed away on November 17, 2023.
Fresh off a degree in Radio and Television at Northwestern University’s School of Speech, a stint as the manager of the University’s radio station, and a commission through AFROTC, 2Lt. Jack Oswald began active duty at Lackland AFB, Texas, on December 7, 1955, exactly fourteen years after Pearl Harbor. From there, it was a quick trip to Ellington AFB, Texas, where he earned his navigator wings.
Later at the Pentagon as internal media chief he faced his biggest challenge: revising the Commander’s Call program. That challenge brought Jack’s unique leadership abilities to the fore, as he assembled and mentored a creative group of talented lieutenants and captains including Andy Chiaramonte, Rick Vaughn, Phil Robinson, Bill Lenz, Mike Robe, Mike Conaway, Jay Welsh, eventual brigadier generals Ron Rand and Tim White, and the Air Force Audiovisual Service staff at Norton AFB. Together they would make a major impact on the Air Force’s internal information efforts for decades to come.
At the time, “Air Force Now” represented a radically different approach to military filmmaking, and it took a lot of convincing before a skeptical Pentagon E-ring would give the go-ahead. Its underlying concept was to combine the then new “60 Minutes”- style long-form story with the also then new short “Sesame Street”-style “ads”—with subjects like safety, special topics and personnel issues. The adoption of these two “modern” ideas, produced by a cadre of bright, young Air Force filmmakers, some who went on to successful Air Force careers and others to fame and fortune in Hollywood, was the key to AFN’s success and longevity.
After an assignment to Vietnam he returned stateside to an assignment at AAVS headquarters in California, Jack became the executive producer of “Air Force Now,” and served in that role until he retired in 1977.
No obituary or funeral arrangements were available for Oswald at press time.
I also had the privilege to work with Jack on the Air Force Now team. Tim white and I ran the SAFOI News clip program and I often partnered with Rick Vaughn on AFN issues. I also worked with Jack on a side project “Goal Productions.” Jack was a true leader and mentor. He had a unique ability to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each of us on the team, and the leadership to encourage our strengths and develop our weaknesses into assets. I will always be grateful to him for the role he played in my life’s journey
I knew Jack well. I was stationed at Hq AAVS during his time there and worked with him producing Air Force Now. I learned a lot from Jack. He was a great guy and teacher. So sorry to hear about his passing.