Airman of the Week: Staff Sgt. Dan Grove

  • Published
  • By 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Dover Air Force Base, Del. --  Name/rank: Staff Sgt. Dan Grove
Squadron: 326th Airlift Squadron
Job description: Loadmaster
Dream assignment and why? Military Training Instructor. The Air Force changed my life and I want to give back. I've found that I have a knack for instruction and enjoy it thoroughly. Being a MTI is the ultimate assignment in positively affecting our future leaders.
Family: Wife, Marie Grove
Hometown: Harrington, Del.
Hobby: Auto body repair, fiberglass and carbon fiber, wielding, sport bike track days, motorcycle repair, automotive repair, dog walking, video editing, bread baking and wine making.
Favorite movie: "The Never Ending Story" and "The Boondock Saints"
Favorite food: Fresh homemade bread
Favorite book: "Starship Troopers" and The Gunslinger Series
Who inspires you? My chief, Chief Master Sgt. Amy Campbell; my supervisor, Senior Master Sgt. Tom Vernon; friend and mentor, Master Sgt. John Willard; Bob "Hop" Hopkins, my civilian supervisor at Rommel Harley-Davidson in New Castle
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I plan to be in Lackland, TX, finishing my second tour as a MTI with two children preparing to go where the Air Force needs me next. I want to be close to finishing my master's degree and still be heavily involved with motorcycle safety.

Over the past decade, the Air Force has lost more Airmen to motorcycle mishaps than in combat fatalities and more than 2000 members have lost duty time to injuries sustained in motorcycle mishaps. Additionally, safety analysis reveals the underlying causes of most mishaps have been lack of proficiency and faulty situational assessment. Staff Sgt. Dan Grove safeguards America's assets as a C-17 Globemaster III reserve loadmaster. In his spare time he safe guards the lives of 755 active and reserve Dover Air Force Base, Del., motorcycle riders as the 512 Airlift Wing motorcycle safety program manager, 326th Airlift Squadron motorcycle safety representative. He is also the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's RiderCoach and the co-founder of veteran's rider education non-profit organization called Freedom Ride, Inc. Grove is driven to instill the good judgment required to be an exceptional rider and the skills to thrive when faced with a survival situation on two wheels. Dan's personal passion for the safety of his brothers and sisters in uniform is an inspiration to those around him.
- Lt. Col. Donald Whitley
Supervisor