<p><em>Randy Michael Cotton</em>, the son of Paul and Betty Cotton, was born in Waverly, NY on December 20, 1955. When he was 14, Randy’s family moved to Dundee, NY, where he later attended Dundee High School. Randy received appointments to the U.S. Air Force, Naval, and Military academies. He selected West Point because he thought it would be the most challenging, a common decision criterion in Randy’s life. Randy always managed to make even the most difficult things look easy. </p>
<p>Randy arrived with the Class of 1978 on R-Day, June 10, 1974. His first cadet company was B-1, and, between yearling and cow years, Randy shuffled into D-2. His academic concentration was Mandarin Chinese, presumably forgoing simpler pursuits! During his time at West Point, Randy had many interests being a member of D-2’s Armored Cav. Troop. He enjoyed science fiction and classical music and was a war-gaming buff. During firstie year, he was selected to be D-2’s first sergeant and then battalion commander. He often played war games with classical music at full blast—it kept the plebes on their toes. His firstie car was a nice little red Camaro that could be seen flying up Route 17, fishtailing through winter storms during Christmas break. Outfitted with a CB radio, his handle was “Flying Scotsman.” </p>
<p>Randy met Debbie at the Firstie Club one Saturday night in February 1978, and they quickly fell in love. They were married in the Cadet Chapel immediately after graduation on June 10, 1978. Randy then attended Airborne School and the Armor Officer Basic Course prior to his first unit assignment with the 1-77th Armor Battalion at Fort Carson, CO (December 1978–June 1981). Colorado became a destination to which Randy and his family would often return. </p>
<p>After his tour at Fort Carson, Randy branch transferred to Aviation to become an air cavalry officer. He attended Army Flight School from July 1981 to March 1982, where he was the distinguished honor graduate and became an OH-58 pilot. Upon graduation, Randy and his growing family moved to Fort Riley, KS and served with the 1-4th Air Cavalry (“Quarterhorse”) Regiment, where he earned everyone’s respect. After his tour at Fort Riley, Randy returned to Fort Rucker, AL for the Aviation Officer Advanced Course. During that time, the Army Space Program (ASP) was expanding and looking for officers that wanted to get in on the “ground floor.” With the lure of graduate school anywhere in the country, Randy applied to both MIT and Stanford. Accepted at both, Randy chose MIT and graduated in July 1987 with an M.S. in astronautical engineering. He received his first ASP assignment back in Colorado Springs, CO with U.S. Space Command, Peterson AFB, where he served as one of the first Army watch commanders in Cheyenne Mountain. </p>
<p>The Army continued its space capabilities expansion when it established the Army Space Institute (ASI) at the Combined Arms Center (CAC), Fort Leavenworth, KS. Randy’s experience and record brought him to ASI in 1991, just in time for the Army’s first full-scale wartime deployment of space capabilities for Desert Shield/Storm. </p>
<p>Randy supported deployment of space systems to Army forces during this assignment, which led to successful and rapid defeat of Iraqi forces. After that victory, ASI dismantled, and the Army started its reduction in force with the end of the Cold War. When the Class of ’78 was offered early separation, Randy was one of the first in line to accept the offer.</p>
<p>After separating from the Army, the Cottons returned to their home in Colorado Springs, where Randy was selected by Geodynamics Corporation to lead a small, advanced team of missile tracking technology experts focused on bringing space information to ground forces. Much of the work that Randy accomplished was done for the Air Force’s Electronic Systems Command. Having built up the capabilities in Colorado Springs, including orchestrating significant corporate “wins” for advanced information systems, Randy continued his endeavors by opening Geodynamics’ office in Massachusetts. </p>
<p>In June 1995, the Cottons moved to New Hampshire. Shortly after completing that move, Randy, having stepped up to so many challenges throughout his life, died on August 27, 1995. He was buried at the Last Rest Cemetery in Merrimack, NH. </p>
<p>Randy and Debbie’s most enduring legacy is the family that they raised. They have five extraordinarily gifted children, with Paul, born January 1980, an Army Apache pilot; Dale, born February 1982, an emergency physician; Maureen, born June 1983, a professional photographer; Valerie, born March 1988, a program manager for NIH; and Donald, born October 1989, a registered nurse. They persevered through the tragic early loss of their father and have been a great support to Debbie and an inspiration to others.</p>
<p>Randy loved and embraced the challenges and possibilities of the future. One of his favorite science fiction books was Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers. Its story envisioned space combat support for soldiers—something Randy helped achieve for his country. High tech meets the air cavalryman. May he rest in peace.</p>