Chuck Shaheen was born on July 17, 1940, in Reedley, California. He was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force ROTC program at Reedley College on June 10, 1962, and went on active duty to begin pilot training on September 28, 1962. Lt Shaheen was awarded his pilot wings at Reese AFB, Texas, on October 22, 1963, and then attended F-100 Super Sabre Combat Crew Training at Luke AFB, Arizona. His first assignment was as an F-100 pilot with the 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England, from September 1964 to September 1967, followed by service as an F-100 pilot at Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, and then as an F-100 Misty Fast FAC pilot at Phu Cat AB, South Vietnam, from October 1967 to October 1968. Capt Shaheen left active duty on October 20, 1968, and flew for Continental Airlines from 1969 to 1985. Chuck Shaheen was Misty 52.

His Silver Star Citation reads:

Captain Charles A. Shaheen, Jr., distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-100F Forward Air Controller over North Vietnam on 8 and 9 June 1968. On those dates, by skillfully controlling armed flights, Captain Shaheen made it possible for the slow-moving rescue helicopter to traverse over six miles of the most heavily defended area of the southern panhandle and to extract a downed aircrew member. He repeatedly made low altitude passes over the area, drawing fire and locating gun sites. After locating their positions, he marked the sites for the strike flights. At all times during the five hours he was in the target area, he was subjected to intense ground fire. The silencing of these sites sterilized the area and made the ensuing rescue possible. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Shaheen has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.