Written by MA staff (12/2010); Reformatted by JS (12/2010)
Jerry Neuberger became a lifetime modeler at the age of 10. He joined the Navy at age 17, with his mother’s permission.
Jerry’s first sea duty was aboard the USS Enterprise where he had plenty of room for flying models and had the chance to enjoy flying models at many of the ship’s ports. Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree and applied for cadet training where he learned to fly from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Leaving active duty, Jerry became an integrated warfare systems manager for 11 aircraft carriers. He started a model airplane club at Miramar Naval Air Station and served as the club’s president for five terms, vice president for two, and secretary for four. He started another club that utilized the San Diego football stadium’s parking lot as a flying site. He served on the club’s board of directors for 13 years. Jerry met former AMA president Cliff Weirick at a club meeting and credits his love for AMA to Cliff. When Cliff was appointed chair of the Model Aviation Hall of Fame Ad Hoc Committee, he asked that Jerry join the committee. When Cliff passed away, then-AMA President Dave Brown appointed Jerry to chair the committee. As a result of this service, Jerry has been awarded two Distinguished Service awards – one in 2002 and one in 2008. Current AMA President Dave Mathewson asked Jerry to chair the Hall of Fame reform, but he declined because he wasn’t a member. After much arm-twisting, he accepted the position.
Jerry has served as an Associate Vice President (AVP) for 11 years and is credited for setting up an online system for AVPs to better communicate with each other. AMA is currently implementing his idea in other districts.
When wildfires engulfed the Miramar flying site, Jerry contacted AMA and arranged for disaster-relief funding. He also serves as a youth pastor at his church where he has initiated model airplane programs for youth.
Jerry has reviewed numerous models for R/C Modeler, including the Thunder Tiger Imagine 50, Hangar 9 P-51D Mustang, and Pacific Aeromodel Edge 540.
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