The Honorable Claude M. Bolton Jr.  grew up in South Sioux City, Nebraska to becoming a Major General in the United States Army. He spent forty years in public service, starting in his enrollment in Air Force ROTC at the University of Nebraska, where he earned his degree in electrical engineering.  During the Vietnam War he flew, 232 combat missions.  In 1977 he attended the Air Force Test Pilot School.  “He was the first program manager for the Advanced Tactical Fighter Technologies Program, which evolved into the F-22 Raptor System Program Office.”(Sioux City Journal, August 17th, 2016).

Following his distinguished military career, Maj. Gen. Bolton was nominated by President George W. Bush to be the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) and
served in that position from Jan. 2, 2002, to Jan. 2, 2008. (Sioux City Journal, August 17, 2016). During those years, anything the military wore, ate, or used during those years was purchased by Bolton.

In 2005, he came back to speak with South Sioux City students.  “Each and every one of you can do the same thing, I don’t consider myself any different from you all. If I can do it, you can do it.” (Sioux City Journal, Jenny Welp Journal staff writer Apr 1, 2005). If I can do it, you can do it.  That’s a big challenge in a very few words.