Did you know that the Hampton Roads Tidewater Chapter is one of the oldest SOLE Chapters having been chartered in 1968 (SOLE was formed in 1966).

Our chapter formation, as the then ” Tidewater Chapter of the Society of Logistics Engineers”, was founded by William J. “Blackie” Blackburn, CPL, who was also the first Chapter Chairman.

Blackie served 20 years in the U.S. Navy in the field of aircraft maintenance and logistics, predominately in  carrier aviation. His assignments included Operation Deep Freeze in the Antartic, Air Wing Maintenance Officer on the USS Enterprise, and Aviation Support Equipmwnt Office for the Atlantic Fleet.