Dayton SKYWARN Sectional Net Operators
Who Are These People?
Without the assistance of this very dedicated group of amateur radio operators Dayton SKYWARN would not exist. It is because of their desire to help protect the 15+ county area, including their own communities, that Dayton SKYWARN is able to assist the National Weather Service during severe weather events. On call with the NWS 24/7, they will leave the safety of their homes, during severe weather events, driving to the Dayton SKYWARN site, so they can relay severe weather reports from any or all of the 15+ counties to the National Weather Service via amateur radio.
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Louis Long (KB8TCK) Co-Coordinator – Sectional Net Operator – Licensed since 1993, Lou holds an Extra Class amateur license. Originally from West Virginia, Lou is retired from the healthcare field as a Recreation Therapist at the Dayton VAMC. When not attending to Skywarn duties, he is a Track and Field & Cross Country Official for OHSAA, NCAA, and USATF. Lou officially became Dayton SKYWARN’s Co-Coordinator September 22, 2007.
Don Parker (KB8PSL) Co-Coordinator – Sectional Net Operator – Licensed since 1993, holds an Extra Class Amateur Radio License. He joined Dayton SKYWARN in 2005. Don’s background is in emergency services. He is retired from law enforcement and the Kettering Fire Department as a Fire Command Officer. Don is a team coordinator for the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Response team (EMCOMM) with county O.E.M.A. Don is a Montgomery County Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Logistics and P.I.O. for ARES. Don is a Laurel Amateur Radio Club Volunteer Examiner Coordinator. Don officially became Dayton SKYWARN’s Co-Coordinator September 22, 2007.
Gary Clark II (KC8TND) – Co-Coordinator – Sectional Net Operator – Gary has been licensed since 2002, Gary holds a Technician Class amateur radio license. Gary became a Dayton Skywarn Sectional Net Operator in July2009. Gary has been an active volunteer with a local chapter of the U.S. Jaycees for over 8 years. Gary is a past member of the Civil Air Patrol, USAF Auxillary for 10 years assisting with Ground and Air Search and Rescue and Disaster Relief operations as both a volunteer Team Leader and Mission Base Radio Operator. Gary is the Skywarn representative for Montgomery County Ares.
Greg Stephens (KD8NKQ) – Sectional Net Operator – Greg has been licensed since 2009, holds a Technician amateur class license. Greg has retired from the position of Communications Supervisor for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
David A. Crawford (KF4KWW) – Sectional Net Operator – Licensed since 1996, Dave holds an Extra Class license. He is active in many facets of Amateur Radio to include GCARES AEC for Beavercreek city and Beavercreek Township, USAF Marathon Amateur Radio Coordinator, Dara VE Team Leader, Dara van crew, and Hamvention Awards Committee Assistant Chairman. Dave spent twenty-four years serving in the USAF. Seven years as a RADAR maintenance technician and 17 years as a USAF Emergency Services Coordinator before retiring. He curreently is an Electronic Bench Technician maintaining local public service radio systems and lives in Beavercreek, his hometown, with his wife Lee. They have been married for 30+ years.
Mike Carter (W8BSI) – Sectional Net Operator -Licensed since 1975, Mike holds an Extra Class Amateur Radio License. Mike joined Dayton Skywarn in May 2014. Professionally Mike was a mechanical designer and engineering project manager. He is the Operations Officer for the Montgomery County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, primary contact for Miami Valley Hospital’s Emergency Communications Team and is a Communications Specialist with FEMA’s Ohio Task Force One. Mike is a Volunteer License Examiner with both the American Radio Relay League and Laurel Amateur Radio and a Field Instructor and Examiner with the ARRL.
Les Dershem (K9CAV) – Sectional Net Operator – Les has been licensed since 1995 and currently holds a General Class amateur license. He joined Skywarn in 2016. Les has a 38 year public safety background, and has been a paramedic, firefighter, police officer and police/fire/EMS/911 Communications Operator. He is also retired after 22 years in the U.S. Army, having served on active duty and with the Ohio Army National Guard. Les is a member of the Montgomery County ARES and DARA
Jack Melke (KM8N) – After receiving an Associate’s Degree in Industrial Engineering in 1969, Jack started at Monsanto Mound Laboratory the same year, worked at Mound Lab for ~ 35 years starting as a Radiation Control Technician progressing on through Lab to Development on the Research Technician to Development Engineer and finally to Building Engineer. Married to first wife in 1969 raised three daughters. First licensed in 2007, joined MARA that same year. Jack has served as Club treasurer, Vice President once each and Club President 3 times. He is the Net Control for the MOCOARES weekly net on the third Tuesday of each month for 5 years. Jack has been with Skywarn for about 1 year.
Past Coordinators
Frank Schwab (W8OK – SK) Dayton Weather’s Founder/Past Coordinator (1974-2003) – Licensed in 1946 as W8YCP Frank was quick to upgrade to the ranks of Extra Class as W8OK. Along with other amateurs, Frank founded Dayton Weather (now Dayton SKYWARN) based at the Dayton Weather Service Office at Dayton Int’l Airport, General Aviation in late 1974. (In 1952 as the President of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association, Frank was among the organizers of the first Hamvention.) He retired as Coordinator of Dayton Weather in 1994 with Paula & Nelson DiGennaro taking the reigns, but he remained an active Sectional Net Operator until his death on May 30, 2003. His family has graciously permitted Dayton SKYWARN to carry Frank’s call (W8OK) in his memory.
Paula DiGennaro (KA8HQJ) Past Co-Coordinator / Sectional Net Operator (1980-2007) – Licensed since 1979, holding a General Class amateur radio license. In 1980, Paula became involved with Dayton’s SKYWARN as a Net Operator. She was selected as a Dayton SKYWARN Co-Coordinator in 1994. A Realtor since 1974 in her spare time Paula enjoys all forms of auto racing, poodles “Cinnamon, Raven & lovebird Flagger” and is Founder/ Coordinator of: The SICSA Red Dog Racers Charity Auction, held in mid-October each year for animal welfare. In 1994 Paula w./husband, Nelson, worked to find Dayton SKYWARN their new home at Butler Twp Fire Dept but also organized Dayton Weather into what is now known as Dayton SKYWARN “W8OK.” Paula retired after 13 years as Co-Coordinator and 27 years as a Dayton SKYWARN Sectional Net Operator.
Nelson DiGennaro (WB8VUU) Past-Coordinator / Sectional Net Operator / License Trustee (1981-2007) – Licensed since 1976 – holding an Extra Class amateur radio license, Nelson joined Dayton SKYWARN in 1981. He was selected as a Dayton SKYWARN Co-Coordinator in 1994. Nelson has worked as a Civilian for the U.S. Air Force since 1977. He also served as Radio Officer for the Montgomery County (Ohio) RACES for several years. For relaxation he enjoys RVing, poodles (Cinnamon & Raven), lovebird (Flagger), auto racing and assisting with SICSA’s Red Dog Racer’s Charity Auction fund raiser. In 1994 Nelson w./wife, Paula, worked to find Dayton SKYWARN their new home at Butler Twp Fire Dept and also organized Dayton Weather into what is known today; Dayton SKYWARN “W80K” Nelson retired after 13 years as Co-Coordinator and 26 years as a Dayton SKYWARN Sectional Net Operator.