My Bio

Paul Stuart Gass – aka: Gazza. Pablo, Billy & ‘The’ Gassman!

• Born 18th Jan 1972 at the West Cheshire Hospital (now the Countess of Chester Hospital) Chester, England, UK. Grew up in Blacon, Chester.

• Early Education:  7-11 yrs old -Holly Bank School (Private),  11-17 yrs old – Upton High School (State) both located in Chester, England, UK.

•  Joined 610 (City of Chester) Squadron, Air Training Corps (Royal Air Force Cadets) at 13 yrs. Attained rank of Cadet Flight Sergeant and Senior Bugler/Drum Major.

• Enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in May 1990 as an RAF Supplier. Attained the rank of Senior Aircraftman (SAC) and served for 7 years for Queen and Country.
  • RAF Swinderby (Basic Training)
  • RAF Hereford (Trade Training – Supply TG18)
  • RAF St Athan (Detachment) :  Military Driver Training – LGV
  • RAF Northolt (Posting) : POL, R&D, Tech Supply, SCAF
  • RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Island (Detachment): Ground/Tac Fuels
  • RAF Waddington (Detachment):  Nimrod AEW aircraft upgrade

• Employed by Serco Defense & Aerospace – Defense Contractor (RAF) as Leading Hand/Test Equip Controller/Senior Supply Supervisor/Barrack Warden: 1997 -2006.
  • RAF Northolt : 32 (The Royal) Squadron – Formally ‘The Queen’s Flight’.
  • RAF Uxbridge : Queen’s Colour Squadron-RAF Regiment & RAF Central Band.

• Re-joined the Air Training Corps in 1997 as an uniformed adult volunteer. Attained the rank of Warrant Officer (ATC) and qualified as a Corps appointed Drill Instructor. served 14 yrs and finished as Deputy Wing Warrant Officer – Herts & Bucks Wing.
  • 114 (Ruislip & Northwood) Squadron, ATC
  • 2457 (Tring) Squadron, ATC
  • Training & Development Team, Herts & Bucks Wing, ATC
  • Drill Instruction Team, Herts & Bucks Wing, ATC
  • Combined Cadet Force Detachment, Assistant DI – Cadet 150 Parade, The mall & Buckingham Palace, London

• Took a career break in 2006 to travel and volunteer abroad with Cross-Cultural Solutions in San Carlos, Costa Rica. Met my ‘now’ wife on the same Volunteer program.
  • Women’s Empowerment Group – recycling
  • Classroom Assistant -Sex Education
  • Teaching Verbal English to Collage students
  • Orphanage
  • Seniors Home

• Returned to UK in 2007 and took up employment with an electrical retailer; Comet Group Plc at their head office in Rickmansworth, Herts as Senior Supply Coordinator.

• Moved to New Jersey, USA in 2011 to marry my lovely lady, Marianne. Received my permanent Resident Status (Green Card) in November 2011

• Became a community volunteer with American Red Cross in Nutley, NJ.

• Blogger  ‘greenhorn’!

• Disaster Preparedness Specialist, American Red Cross – North Jersey Region             (Oct 2012 – Oct 2013)

 

• Regional Preparedness Manager, American Red Cross-North Jersey Region               (Oct 2013-Present)