Candidate for State Representative, Ohio , District #69

Contact Information

About

Ohio's families deserve employment they can count on, public schools that are properly funded and a secure retirement environment. 

BACK JACK SHIRA
to put Ohio citizens first.

Education:

• B.S. Air Force Academy, Aeronautics
• M.S. M.I.T., Astronautics
• M.A.P.A., University of Ok., Government

Jobs:

• USAF, 22 years:  Vietnam War Veteran:
• Project Engineer Gemini Space Program
• Cold War Nuclear Alert
• Aerospace Engineer/Manager, 5 year
• Brunswick Hills Trustee, 4 years
• N. Medina County Juvenile Diversion Board

Affiliations:

• Brunswick United Methodist Church
• Commander, American Legion Post 234
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9520
• Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 385

Bio

Biography, (Summary) for John A. Schira Jr.(Jack)

Jack Schira was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1938.  He grew up on Cleveland’s west side, graduating from Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary School and attending one year at John Marshall High School.  In June, 1952,  Jack’s family moved to Solon, Ohio.

Jack graduated from Solon High school lettering in track, baseball and football.  He won an appointment to the USAF Academy and received a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics, graduating in 1960 on the Superintendent’s List.  He then attended M.I.T. receiving a Master of Science in Astronautics on an Air Force scholarship.  Graduating in June 1962 on the Dean’s List,  he was assigned to Cape Canaveral, Florida where he became the Chief of Engineering for the Launch Vehicle and Launch Pad for all manned launches of the Gemini Space Program. 

Upon completion of the Gemini Program, Jack volunteered for flying duty in the Vietnam War.  As a Navigator, he completed 100 Photo Reconnaissance missions over North Vietnam.  He then received a flying assignment to an F4D all weather nuclear delivery squadron in Germany.  After two years of this duty, he was honored  with an assignment to Armed Forces Staff College followed by a tour in the Pentagon, as an Executive Officer and Budgeting Officer on the Air Staff, Directorate of Space.

 Jack Completed his Air Force Career in a variety of staff positions and retired as a Colonel with 22 years active duty.  Among his decorations were the Distinguished Flying Cross, eleven Air Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals and the Commendation Medal. 

After retiring from the Air Force Jack worked for several years in the Aerospace industry in the Dayton area.  Moving to Brunswick Hills, Ohio in 1996, he worked in the home-building business for a while, did some substitute teaching in Medina County Schools.  and served from 2000 through 2003 as a Brunswick Hills Trustee.  Jack was also the Democratic Candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives, 69^th District in 2002, 2006 and 2008.

Currently, Jack serves on the Northern Medina County Juvenile Diversion  Board and is Commander of American Legion Post 234 in Brunswick.  He is a member of the United Methodist Church of Brunswick and also belongs to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Jack has been married to the former Susan Houghton for twenty two years and they have two children;  Samuel, 20 and Christine, 17.  Jack has two children from his first marriage to Georgeanne Metzger, formerly of Gates Mills, Ohio.  Their daughter, Robin teaches school in Yorktown, Virgina and their son, Jay is a software engineer working in the Washington, DC area.