Operations Managers are key in both peacetime and time of war, as they coordinate all aviation operations around them. This is a massive task requiring long hours and the ability to be very flexible with a schedule – the enemies of the United States rarely limited their operations to 9-5. In peacetime (although the Cold War was raging), Chris was responsible for the scheduling, monitoring, debriefing and more for all training flights, air-refueling missions, ground training, the issuance of flight orders, coordination with intelligence and life support, and more. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990, the world changed for Chris and most of his colleagues in the Air Force. Chris was initially sent to set up a forward command post for Strategic Air Command at the 17th Provisional Air Division at the Mildenhall Royal Air Force Base in the United Kingdom. Later, Rainwater was deployed to the Air Force front lines at the massive Riyadh Air Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Chris served in support of Operations Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Provide Comfort, a mission dedicated to keeping the Iraqi Army from attacking the Kurdish populations in the North and South of Iraq. For his efforts, Rainwater was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star, the Combat Service Medal, the Liberation of Kuwait Medal (by U.S.), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (by Kuwait), and Saudi Arabia’s Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (by Saudi Arabia). Chris was a model soldier from the beginning, and he was recognized for his dedication and hard work through early promotions and numerous unit awards. Without a doubt, the single largest award came to Chris in 1993, when he was named Outstanding Operations Manager for Air Mobility Command, an extremely rare award in the Air Force. The award was presented by Lt. General John Jackson, Commander of the 15th Air Force, who flew from his base at March AFB in California to Robins AFB in Georgia to present Chris with the award. This award recognized Chris as the “best of the best” throughout the entire Air Force. Before leaving the Air Force in 1994, Chris was also awarded one of the Service’s highest awards, the Air Force Commendation Medal, along with the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, the NCO Professional Military Education Graduation Ribbon, and the Air Force Training Ribbon. Finally, in honor of his service during the Cold War in which the Soviet Union was ultimately forced to bring down the Iron Curtain and dissolve as a military force, Chris was awarded the Cold War Victory Medal, a medal that he shares with his father who also served in the Air Force during the very frenzied days of the Cold War and the threat of nuclear attack. | Medals Earned | 
Air Force
Commendation Medal | 
Air Force Achievement Medal
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National Defense Service Medal | 
Good Conduct Medal | | 
Combat Service Medal | 
Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (by Kuwait) | 
Liberation of Kuwait Medal (by U.S.) | 
Saudi Arabia’s Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (by Saudi Arabia) | 
Cold War Victory Medal |
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