Veterans Day Spotlight: Robert Landsiedel

In celebration of Veterans Day, we invited members of the Douglas Elliman community who have served in the armed forces to reflect on how their service experiences have shaped their lives and careers in the real estate business.

Robert Landsiedel, Agent, Westhampton Beach, NY

Please briefly describe your military service.

I was selected for pilot training by the 106th Rescue Wing, New York Air National, Westhampton Beach, in June 1979. I was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in February 1980 and received my Air Force pilot wings in December 1980. 

I flew HH-3 combat rescue helicopters from April 1981 to April 1988.  During that time, I held several positions as an instructor/flight examiner pilot, Chief of Training, Standardization Pilot and Chief of Safety. In April 1988, I started fixed-wing jet training and completed my fixed-wing transition to the HC-130 in April 1989. 

Over the next 25 years, I maintained qualification as an instructor/flight examiner HC-130 combat rescue pilot. In addition, I held positions as the Chief of Flight Standardization and Evaluation, Squadron Commander, Operations Group Commander, and Logistics/Maintenance Group commander, and completed my career as the Vice Wing Commander. 

Over my career, I flew on many peacetime rescue missions credited with saving multiple lives; I was deployed in combat, flying missions out of Dhahran Air Base, Saudi Arabia, for Operation Southern Watch, in 1994; and I commanded the rescue forces in Incirlik, Turkey, for Operation Northern Watch, in 1998. 

I also played a key role establishing rescue procedures and flying alert missions for the Space Shuttle program after the Space Shuttle Challenger mishap. During my military career, I flew 7500+ hours in the TH-55, UH1, HH-3, and HH-60 helicopters, and the T-37, T-38, and HC-130 fixed-wing aircraft. 

I retired from the 106th Rescue Wing in February 2012 as a colonel., Vice Wing Commander.