A Short Account of the Tailhook Headquarters
For many years, the Tailhook Association headquarters was divided among many different locations. Administration functioned from office spaces in the Kearny Mesa area of San Diego or the master jet base at the then-Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar. In the 1980s and early ’90s our office was housed in surplus office space and moved around the base from time to time. The Hook magazine layout and production operated from a home addition in the South Bay Area of San Diego County moving in with the admin office in 1990. In 1985 RADM J.D. “Jig Dog” Ramage, USN(Ret) donated $5,000 to start a fund-raising drive to build a permanent headquarters on board NAS Miramar. Plans included a large glass-enclosed office building near the east entrance to the station. However, construction was delayed by environmental impact studies and then further delayed following the Tailhook reunion in 1991.
After the 1991 reunion, we decided to establish our headquarters in the civilian community. Bill Knutson and Willy Driscoll conducted a search for buildings in the area and found a small industrial office park just north of Miramar in Scripps Ranch. With the help of the late Ned Baumer, we were housed on the second floor of a building in the office park for two years. When the single-story building that is currently Tailhook headquarters became available at a suitable price, we purchased it and it became our permanent headquarters. We moved in over Memorial Day weekend of 1994.
Our building encompasses more than 5,000 square feet and houses functions for both the Tailhook Association and the Tailhook Educational Foundation (TEF). One of our most important jobs is producing The Hook magazine. We also manage the database of members (active and suspended), track advertising income, accept donations for the TEF and sell Tailhook logo merchandise and jewelry. Additionally, we manage the Tailhook Association Web site, review scholarship applications and plan each annual reunion and symposium.
Tailhook Association Headquarters in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego, Calif.
At the entrance, plaques recognize individual and corporate donors who generously supported us allowing the purchase of this building. We are forever indebted to our members, sponsors and supporters for our home. Through the foyer is the heart of our operation. Office manager, Patty Borich, has administrative responsibility for the staff, office functions and membership. She is assisted by Carol Irelan (merchandise director) with inventory and online sales, and Jan Webb and Beth Rollins provide administrative support to the Tailhook Educational Foundation.
The entry foyer of the Tailhook Headquarters Building
Tailhook Office Manager Patty Borich (left) and Jan Webb, who provices the Tailhook
Educational Foundation with administrative support.
Tailhook Merchandise Director, Carol Irelan
Merchandise samples and awards plaques at Tailhook HQ.
We use our great room for receiving new stock and for receptions. Many of the pictures displayed in this room represent different eras of Naval Aviation, and we display many “Wings of Gold” from Naval Aviators no longer in uniform.
The "Great Room" at Tailhook HQ with photos from the different eras of Taihlook Aviation.
At the headquarters, we maintain a Naval Aviation library archive and produce The Hook magazine. Denny Irelan, Jan Jacobs, Doug Siegfried and off-site proofreader, Phyllis Carter, comprise the production staff. The aviation library archive is available to members for research or just a casual day of reading. Siegfried (archivist) is available to support your research project.
The aread outside the The Hook magazine Editor's office at Tailhook HQ.
Above and below: Portions of the research library at Tailhook HQ.
Our TEF administrative officer, Marc Ostertag, is responsible for fund-raising and distribution of scholarship grants. Ostertag also coordinates the annual Tailhook Convention and Reunion.
Tailhook Educational Foundation Administrative Officer and Tailhook Reunion coordinator, Marc Ostertag
The staff at the San Diego Tailhook Association HQ. Back row, from left: J.R. Davis, Doug Siegfried,
Jan Webb, Marc Ostertag.
Front, from left: Carol Irelan, Patty Borich, Denny Irelan, Denyse Davis and Beth Rollins.
Many Tailhook Association members who live in the San Diego area visit the Tailhook Association headquarters and use our facilities, library archives and periodicals. Those who don’t live in the San Diego area should plan to visit the headquarters when you are in the area.