From Soil Labs to B-52s

PROVO, Utah – Nov 18, 2022 – Upon completing his undergraduate degree in environmental science from BYU, Trenton Blair, compelled by the camaraderie he felt as a cadet in BYU’s Air Force ROTC program, jetted from soil labs to B-52 cockpits. After serving nearly a decade in the military, Blair has completed two deployments, forged lifelong connections, and recently landed a coveted assignment.

“I had an incredible experience at BYU,” says Blair, who graduated in 2015. Amid all the opportunities the school provided him—including studying in China, completing the Washington Seminar, and researching for four years in a soil chemistry lab—being part of the ROTC program, hosted by the BYU Marriott School of Business, was one of Blair’s favorites.  

“After doing Air Force ROTC for a year, I stayed in the program primarily because of the friends I made,” Blair says. These relationships led Blair to commission with the US Air Force when he graduated, even though a military career was miles away from his education and interest in environmental science. “I felt like this change was important for me to make,” says Blair. “I have not regretted my decision.”

Solid relationships remain a staple in Blair’s career. “One of the best parts of the military is the association you create with people,” he says. “The group dynamic is cohesive, and I have lots of support everywhere. People stay for the friendships.” Even though belonging to the Air Force necessitates frequent moves, the connections forged can last a lifetime, Blair says. He explains that new assignments have brought him in contact with old friends, some of which he knew from his days as a BYU student.  

Besides relocating every few years, another challenge in the military is deployment. During his military service, Blair has been assigned to Guam and Qatar. “Being deployed takes a toll on your personal life,” he says. However, there can be a silver lining. “Deployments were good experiences for me,” he shares. “In the military, you spend years training, and deployments are a chance to complete a mission you have prepared for. Completing missions is professionally stimulating and rewarding.”  

Landing his current assignment in 2020 constitutes another rewarding accomplishment in Blair’s career. He serves as an exchange officer at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Seattle. “I’m one of only a handful of Air Force guys on a Navy base,” he says. “The opportunity to be part of a different service while representing the Air Force is incredible.”

In this capacity, Blair acts as an Air Force liaison and flies Navy fighter jets designed to engage in electronic warfare. He enjoys the mission and says that the type of jet he flies—the EA-18G Growler—is particularly fun. “I desperately wanted this assignment,” he says. “I am grateful to be here.”

Next year, Blair plans to transition out of the Air Force so he can prepare to attend law school. However, he and his wife, Rachel Rawle, a microbiology professor at Shoreline Community College, have loved Seattle so much that they plan to stay in the area to pursue their respective professions. In fact, the couple met in a microbiology class at BYU. Blair hopes to return to his original science roots and pursue a legal career related to environmental law or land resource management.

Flying military aircrafts is no easy feat. Wherever life takes him next, Blair counts on using everything he has gained from the US Air Force, from lasting friendships to high-level missions.