Veteran Spotlight: Jack Tipold

Jack Tipold is a veteran who served for four years in the Air Force. 

“I served from 1982 to 1986,” he said. “I was a member of the Security Police (SP) in the Air Force. We worked the flight decks and protected the nuclear warheads.”

As an SP, Tipold was responsible for several different tasks, which included guarding nuclear weapons. His first tour sent him to Italy. He later finished in California with mini missions in between. This included going to Lebanon, Turkey, and Germany.

When Tipold entered the Air Force, he was just a teenager. Seeing that a little time before college might do his son some good, Tipold’s father picked him up one day from school and took him to lunch to discuss serving first before attending college. Instead of going straight to college from high school, he first entered the Air Force.

“Without a doubt, it was the best thing that my dad ever did for me,” Tipold said. “It got me on the straight and narrow.”

Tipold’s time in the Air Force helped him to shift his mindset and develop a more confident approach. 

“It helps you to develop structure,” Tipold explained. “That experience gives you goals, both short-term and long-term. It also helps keep you physically fit.”

After serving four years in the Air Force, Tipold enrolled at Indiana University (IU). Due to his service, IU paid for his college education.

To this day, Tipold remains close to many of those who he served with.

“They’re like brothers to me,” he said.

One of Tipold’s sons followed in his footsteps, opting for the Air Force out of high school instead of heading straight into college. In his son’s case, COVID-19 also impacted the decision to serve. With so many aspects of society closed down or significantly hindered due to COVID, including college classroom learning and the general college experience, his son determined that serving in the Air Force and delaying college was the best option. 

Tipold was recently accepted into the Harvard University Leadership of Professional Excellence Program. The program spans four years. 

Tipold encourages high schoolers to consider serving before college. While college might be a practical approach for many students, he emphasizes that it’s not the only path to take.

“Overall, it was a great experience for me,” he said. “I think it’s good for most kids coming out of high school if they aren’t going to college to look into serving. It helps teach people about discipline and self-esteem.”

Tipold’s next big step in his journey is running for Porter County District 3 Chair.

“I have a desire to protect and advance the rights of the working class families in my surrounding communities and to continue to champion the rights of all diversities in the public sector,” Tipold said. “I hope to work between both parties to resolve the issues that divide us and develop trustworthy relationships within our Porter County communities.”

Tipold has been married for over 26 years to his wife, Mitzi. They have two sons, Spencer and Griffin, and they cherish every opportunity they get to spend together as a family.