From working in a Galaxy far, far away, to a Hangar at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, things are going "just swimmingly" for Kurt Koehler (Aerospace Engineering Technician, Maintenance Service Group - AJF-2231). Though he has been an Aerospace Engineering Technician on the Center for 17 years, many might not know that he is also a coach for the Mustang Public High School Swim team.

An Air Force "brat" from Utah, Kurt moved with his family to Oklahoma when he was 4 years old. He left the state when he joined the U.S. Air Force, and began working as a Crew Chief on the C-5 Galaxy cargo plane. After serving ten years at Dover Air Force Base (AFB), Delaware, Kurt transferred to Kelly AFB, in San Antonio, Texas, where he performed Isochronal Inspections on the C-5. While stationed there, he decided to go back to school and eventually earned his Airframe and Power Plant license.

Though he contemplated leaving the service, his father and friends persuaded him to stay in until retirement. When he heard about a Special Duty assignment at the Aeronautical Center, he jumped at the chance. For the last five years of his Air Force career, he maintained aircraft for the Air Force Flight Standards Association (AFFSA). He retired on a Friday in 2003, and was working as an Aerospace Engineering Technician the following Monday. "I’m still a Technician 17 years later," he says.

So how does an Aerospace Engineering Technician become a coach for a Swim Team? While in High School, Kurt followed his brother’s footsteps, and swam Freestyle and Breaststroke. "After that, I just kept swimming - even after I joined the Air Force. I swam in Germany, Saudi Arabia, Guam, the Azores, and anywhere I could find a pool," Kurt reflects. He even competed in a Triathlon in Spain! One of his most memorable moments was to "…Run as fast as possible to get ahead of everyone so I wouldn’t get kicked and hit in the group. Little did I know [when I got in the water] I would be breaking up the jelly fish for everyone behind me. It really felt like swimming in jelly," Kurt explains. He was the 3rd competitor out of the water, (out of 120 swimmers) and his team finished 3rd overall. Kurt is a Masters Swimmer, and enjoys competitive meets. Four years ago, he swam in the Spring Masters Nationals, where he hopes to compete again this April, in San Antonio, TX.

Thirteen years ago, a coworker told him that the Mustang High School was looking for a swim coach. Fortunately for him, Koehler’s best friend is also a swim coach at West Moore High School, who taught him "the ropes." After teaching kids to swim for that many years, Kurt has seen how rewarding it is to help students achieve their goals. He adds, "It’s a great sport; great for their body and making long lasting friendships. There are limited positions on a Baseball team, or Basketball team, so swimming allows kids who want to be on a team to fit in." "Coach K", as they call him, expounds, "I love taking what I call ’back yard swimmers’ and watching them grow into real athletes and responsible adults."

Unfortunately, Mustang High School doesn’t have a swimming pool (yet), so the team practices at the City of Mustang’s Community Center pool until weather turns cold. During cold days, the team takes a bus ride to the Lighthouse Fitness Center pool near Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City. During Swimming season, the Mustang Swim Booster Club does a great job of making things better for the team. They provide food and drinks for the students during meets, and they coordinate a Christmas party and end-of-year banquet. Coach K says, "If you want to be a part of your child’s life, swimming can do that. I often think of the meets I had in High School, and don’t remember the times in set, but I do remember the people that were there."

In addition to swimming, Kurt enjoys sailing, shooting, working on old cars (namely, his 1969 Camaro) and spending quality time with his daughter. Over summer break, Koehler teamed up with the Yukon High School swim coach to provide students with an opportunity to improve their skills. Two camp sessions were conducted, in which students were given "golden nuggets" to help them learn how to perform different strokes, and to build endurance. With an animated teaching style, Kurt keeps the kids’ attention. During practice, you can hear him say, "I’m the Coach. So let’s just say that I’m right!" Those who pay attention to him develop better flip-turn techniques, and improve their lap times with better form.

Proud to have served in the U.S. Air Force and to have developed important skills that keep our airspace safe and efficient, Kurt finds himself very fortunate to have achieved his dream of working for the Federal Aviation Administration, and continuing in service to our country. He is the kind of employee that makes the Aeronautical Center a better place to work, and by sharing his additional expertise with the community, he has definitely made a "splash" in many students’ lives.