Aggie Stedman was born on March 4, 1956, at Chanute AFB, Illinois. After completing his bachelor's degree at Texas A&M, he entered the Air Force through the Flight Screening Program in September 1978, and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the Air Force through Officer Training School on February 1, 1979. Lt Stedman next completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin AFB, Texas, in February 1980, followed by AT-38 Talon Lead-In Fighter Training at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, from February to May 1980. He attended F-15A Eagle training at Luke AFB, Arizona, from May to September 1980, and then served as an F-15 pilot with the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena AB, Okinawa, from October 1980 to April 1984. Capt Stedman attended Pilot Instructor Training at Randolph AFB, Texas, from May to September 1984, followed by service as a T-38 Instructor Pilot at Reese AFB, Texas, from September 1984 to May 1987. His next assignment was to F-15C training back at Luke AFB from June to September 1987, and then as an F-15C pilot with the 59th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Eglin AFB, Florida, from September 1987 to November 1988. He served in Stan/Eval with the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB from November 1988 until he left active duty and joined the Air Force Reserve on June 1, 1990. Maj Stedman served as an Air Force Academy Admissions Liaison Officer from July 1990 until he joined the Indiana Air National Guard as an F-16C Fighting Falcon pilot on May 4, 1991. Lt Col Stedman served in the Indiana ANG until his retirement on March 1, 2002, having accumulated over 2,700 hours flying time, mostly in F-15 and F-16 fighters. While in the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, and after his military retirement, he also flew as a civilian pilot for UPS from May 1990 to September 2012, during which time he flew the McDonnell Douglas DC-8, Boeing 727, Boeing 747, and Airbus A-300. Aggie has been a member of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association since 2003, having served as River Rat Vice President from April 2015 to April 2017, and as President from April 2017 to April 2019. Aggie married Donna Anderson on May 4, 1980, and they have 3 children.

...So here's a "Nickel on the Grass" to you, my friend. And your spirit, enthusiasm, sacrifice, and courage. But most of all, to your friendship. Yours is a dying breed and when you are gone, the world will be a lesser place!