The J. Darin Loftis Memorial Scholarship
was established by the Calloway
County High School Class of ’86 in memory and honor of fellow
classmate, Lt Col J. Darin Loftis.
The scholarship
will be awarded to a Calloway County High School senior based on academic success,
volunteerism and interest in international study. The goal of the class is to
raise $30,000 in five years so the scholarship will be endowed and Darin will
always be remembered. It is a fitting tribute to a man who loved learning and
valued education.
A 1990 graduate of Vanderbilt University with a degree in Mechanical
Engineering, Darin served two years in the Peace Corps before joining the Air
Force in 1996.
During his military career he applied and was accepted into the
International Affairs Specialist program. After two years of study at the Naval
Post Graduate School and the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California
he became a South Asia Regional Affairs Strategist.
With his love and gift for languages, Darin became proficient in Pashto, the
prominent language of Afghans. He also learned a working knowledge of Dari, the
other official language of Afghanistan.
His job was to teach the culture to the Special Operation Forces that would be
working alongside the Afghans as they assisted the Afghan military and police in
taking over the security of their country. Darin was killed on February 25,
2012 while working in the Afghanistan Interior Ministry in Kabul.
In an interview with Northwest Florida Daily News, Darin’s wife, Holly
expressed his view on the value of education; “He knew education opens doors
and minds and that is the key to people understanding each other.”
Darin earned three master degrees while serving in the USAF.
