Some people leave a lasting impression through what they accomplish. Others are remembered for how they made people feel. Colonel Alan Shoemaker ’59 did both. A decorated Air Force veteran who devoted decades to serving others, he built a legacy of kindness, humility, and generosity that touched the lives of those around him.
Shoemaker grew up in Spring Valley, New York. Both of his uncles had attended Lehigh, which put the school on his radar. He initially gave engineering a try before finding his footing in English. A proud member of Phi Sigma Kappa, he could often be found playing piano at fraternity parties, encouraging his brothers to sing, smile, and make merry.
A Career in Service
Shortly after graduating, Shoemaker took the advice of several friends and explored a career in the military. He enlisted on the Fourth of July and soon found himself working in public affairs and communications for the Air Force. Over the next three decades, he served in a variety of roles, including two years in Vietnam with the 56th Special Operations Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base. Although he wasn’t on the front lines, his work supported secret, high-pressure military missions. His service earned a Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Much of Shoemaker’s career was spent as the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs in New York City. There, he worked to tell the Air Force’s story while ensuring its personnel received the national recognition they deserved. Among his routine assignments, he booked airmen on network television shows, including CBS’s To Tell the Truth, a game show that challenged panelists to identify a person claiming to be the subject of a story. One such guest was Airman Darrell Pace, who earned the gold medal in men’s individual archery at the 1976 Olympic Games at the age of 19.
Over three tours in that office, Shoemaker led a team working at the intersection of the Air Force and one of the world’s largest media markets. They built relationships with journalists and brought military stories to a national audience.
“Alan Shoemaker was one of the most exceptional public affairs people that I’ve ever come across in my life,” says Wil Williams, a close friend and former military colleague. “I worked under him for three years, and we had a more than 50-year friendship. He was a selfless, unsung hero. There are numerous things happening today in the Air Force that have their roots in Shoemaker.”
Shoemaker also helped bring greater visibility to historic achievements in military aviation. In 1977, the first 10 women graduated from Air Force pilot training. Shortly after they earned their silver aviator wings, Shoemaker’s office took the lead in securing appearances for two of them on NBC’s Today. It was an historic milestone for the Air Force, broadcast nationally, and one that stemmed directly from Shoemaker’s proactive leadership.
His passion for recognizing others extended beyond current Air Force personnel. Each year, in conjunction with a New York parade that passed his office, Shoemaker hosted a party for members of the national press. Other regular guests included Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military aviators and support personnel in the U.S. Armed Forces, who served during World War II. These gatherings gave the Tuskegee Airmen opportunities to share their service and experiences with journalists, offering firsthand perspectives that the press might not otherwise have encountered. For decades, Shoemaker seized every opportunity to promote the Air Force and honor the accomplishments of those who served.
A Commitment Continued
When Shoemaker retired from the Air Force in 1989, his commitment to service was far from over. He joined the MITRE Corporation as its director of public affairs and continued supporting organizations connected to the military and communications, including the Air Force Association’s Paul Revere Chapter and the Lexington-Concord chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA).
At AFCEA, Shoemaker became an indispensable volunteer, wearing just about every hat imaginable. He served as chapter historian, created its first centralized historical archive, recruited more than 200 corporate members, developed a brochure, advised on bylaws, and helped the chapter earn international recognition. He also mentored generations of chapter officers.
One of his most significant contributions was leading the chapter’s awards program. He guided nominations through the writing, revision, and submission process before recipients were recognized. Given the chapter’s size and the volume of nominations, the work demanded countless hours.
Shoemaker never complained. He simply made sure the job got done.
It was through AFCEA that Shoemaker met Evan Gaj '16.
“I first met Alan when he was reaching out to get information for an award,” explains Gaj. “We got to know each other because of the Lehigh connection. He was a true leader and a mentor to many people there, aiding them personally and professionally. He heard you, he saw you, and he met you where you were at. He was a great storyteller, and he was so humble. Most people didn’t even know he was a decorated veteran.”
In 2024, Shoemaker’s decades of dedication to AFCEA International were recognized with the Chairman’s Superior Performance Award. The honor reflected more than 35 years of service to the chapter and its members and his impact on one of the organization’s largest chapters.
A Lasting Impression
But for all of his professional accomplishments and accolades, those closest to Shoemaker would say his greatest achievements were much more personal.
His daughter, Jamie Shoemaker, describes a man who spent his life showing up for others and placing a premium on trust, kindness, and human connection.
“My father was the rock of our family and the pillar of our community,” she says. “He was reliable and the person you would always go to. People trusted him and sought his advice. That’s the kind of guy he was, the sort that followed through on promises. He was a lighthouse in the storm that steadied the water for people.”
That steady presence, however, didn’t mean Shoemaker was one to sit still, whether he was sailing, piloting an aircraft, or riding a motorcycle. Even into his 70s, he was still paragliding off the cliffs at Torrey Pines, seemingly determined to squeeze every bit of joy out of life.
“Everyone loved my father,” Jamie says. “He was a true renaissance man and a storyteller to his core. The way he spoke to and about people will never be forgotten.”
His legacy lives on in the people he mentored, the stories he helped tell, and the countless lives he touched. His career was defined by service, but his warmth and ability to make others feel seen are what make him unforgettable.
