James "Jim" Ness
U.S. Army, 1971–1973, U.S. Air Force, 1974–1978
Jim Ness was born and raised in Florida and began his military service in the U.S. Army before transferring to the U.S. Air Force in 1974. He served during a period of heightened Cold War tensions and was stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. As a flying crew chief assigned to the B-52 Stratofortress, Ness played a critical role in maintaining and preparing nuclear-armed bombers for launch. He participated in a demanding rotation of alert duties, where aircraft had to be airborne within minutes in the event of a nuclear strike order. Ness reflects on the sense of urgency, responsibility, and teamwork that defined this role, and on the camaraderie he experienced with both enlisted personnel and officers. After leaving the Air Force in 1978, Ness returned to civilian life and entered the construction industry in South Florida. Drawing on both military training and skills passed down from his father, he advanced quickly into leadership roles and ultimately led major commercial and public projects across the region. His work included hotels, stadiums, water treatment plants, and restorations. One of his most notable projects was the preservation and relocation of the Richmond Naval Air Station headquarters building—now the home of the Miami Military Museum. Ness led the building’s structural restoration and coordinated its relocation, and he continues to serve as the museum’s facilities manager and restoration specialist. His lifelong dedication to building, service, and historical preservation demonstrates the enduring impact of military experience in shaping personal and community legacy.
Full Interview
Interview Summary
Access the complete transcript here
Introduction (0:47 – 1:19)
Early life and enlistment in the Army (1:19 – 6:51)
Engineer training and duty in Germany (6:51 – 9:47)
Transition to the Air Force in 1974 (9:47 – 10:55)
Life as a flying crew chief (10:55 – 16:57)
Five-minute scramble and nuclear alert duty (16:57 – 25:16)
Civilian life and construction career (25:16 – 28:49)
Restoration of the Miami Military Museum (28:49 – 33:48)
Work at the Miami Military Museum (33:48 – 37:40)
Reflections and advice for younger generations (37:40 – 47:41)
