Stan Cole is a retired US Air Force Colonel and currently the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor for the Blue Springs South High School JROTC program. Mr. Cole grew up in the Kansas City area, graduating from Hickman Mills High School in 1988 before attending the United States Air Force Academy in the Class of 1992. Following graduation from the Academy, he went on to serve as an Air Force intelligence officer for over 22 years. He retired from the Joint Staff at the Pentagon in 2014 and moved back to the Kansas City area to teach. He has extensive leadership and management experience, having twice served as Commander in the US Air Force at the squadron and group levels.