Rick Peterson is a retired United States Air Force officer and high school physics teacher from Grand Junction, Colorado. While in the Air Force he worked at NASA's Johnson Space Center with the unit assigned to help plan and operate military missions using the Space Shuttle. He also served as a missile launch officer, radar operator, headquarters staff member and the Director of Operations for a radar site on the west coast. After retiring from active duty, Rick returned to his home state of Colorado and acquired his teaching license and a physics degree. He taught for 19 years before serving as the president of the local teacher's union. He became active with the Air & Space Forces Association and the Civil Air Patrol during this time and served as a squadron and group commander as well as the state treasurer of the Colorado AFA. In retirement, Rick works with the EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum on various projects including a rocketry class for middle school students and a display on the James Webb Space Telescope. He also stays busy with his family and church and is helping organize (for the 6th time) the Grand Junction Air Show.