By Hunt Brabrand

Photo credit: Kyle Rachau.

Kyle Rachau, husband to Middle and Upper School Instructional Technology Coach Rachael Rachau, has been part of the United States Air Force for 21 years. He is currently a Supplemental Expert for IT (Information Technology), and his passion for technology started when he was only 15 years old. A high school teacher, Mr. Flickinger, ignited Rachau’s interest in web development as he learned HTML coding and started creating web pages in high school. Unfortunately, Rachau’s parents couldn’t pay for college directly, so, as he put it, it was “join the military or go into a bunch of student debt.” His brother, just two years older, was in the Army at the time of Rachau’s graduation and recommended joining the military. But instead of the Army, his brother recommended the Air Force, as it fit Rachau’s interests more. So, at the age of 18, Rachau enlisted.

At the time, the path to becoming an Air Force computer programmer was lightly treaded, with Rachau’s recruiter even telling him, “Nobody passes the test.” However, Rachau beat the odds and passed the test to become a programmer. His path started with basic training and technical school, a route all military members take. To follow his specific field in programming, Rachau was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. He then moved to Montgomery, Alabama after his training, developing key resources for the Air Force, such as IMDS, a system for operating weapons, and TBA, a training software for the Air Force. Soon after, Rachau was sent to Germany, where he created “.net” programs for centralized mail and testing purposes. Finally, he went to Hawaii, where he served as a Sharepoint Administrator, managing Sharepoint farms and databases. After 12 years of active duty, Rachau left to continue his career independently, while still staying in the Air Force reserves. Now, Rachau attends an annual NATO conference to help develop core services between countries, such as email, LAN, and general communications.

Soldiers at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. Photo credit: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.

Rachau appreciates his career in the military, stating it was “the number one greatest influence on my life.” He said it allowed him to start his career as a software engineer while surrounding him with like-minded people. He said the military shaped the way he lives, as he still follows its core values, which shapes his moral code and way of living. The Air Force gave him purpose and showed him what it meant to serve his country: “It was, overall, the biggest driver of success in my life.”

When asked if he would recommend military life to others, Rachau said it was an “amazing path.” He claimed it gives young adults the chance to start their careers and get paid early, while earning college credits for basic training and technical school. In four years, he himself came out of the Air Force with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science while getting paid the entire time. “I am a firm believer in anyone choosing the path that I did,” he said, though he does regret not having been more proactive. He wished he could have finished his schooling sooner, as he was working on his bachelor’s degree for ten of his twelve years of active service. He also wished he had progressed faster on the professional level. Currently, he is working as the Director of Technical Sales at ELEKS, an Ukrainian IT company.

Team 5804 climbing at the end of a match. Photo credit: FIRST Chesapeake.

Rachau spends his free time doing things he loves. His most passionate hobby is “anything outdoors.” From fishing to snowboarding, to baseball and basketball, Rachau says that sports and other outdoor activities allow him to stay active and enjoy life.

Rachau volunteers as a mentor for Collegiate’s robotics team, FRC Team 5804, of which I am a member. There, he assists with coding both robots and a data collection website used to inform decisions at competitions. When asked if he has advice for others, Rachau advised helping people, being true to oneself, and being passionate: “Do great things.”