2020-22 Officers

Pat Knowles, President

Pat was born in Buffalo, New York and joined the Air Force in 1968. His first assignment was as aerial cameraman to 1365th photo Sq. Norton AFB in 1969.  Lots of exciting TDY’s to Nellis with the F111 weapons testing, the Thunderbirds and nuclear tests at Mercury NV.

In 1970, he was off to Ubon, Thailand as an A/C 130 Spectre Gunship Cameraman. In 1971 he was re-assigned to 1369th Photo Squadron at Vandenberg, CA to cover Minute Man and Titan Missile build up and Launches.

From there he was assigned to Norton AFB, CA Production Unit where he was 1st camera operator for many AF Now segments as and starred in AFN Segment 101 “The enlisted flyer”.  After his tour at Norton he was assigned to Hickam, HI in 1978 as an aerial cameraman assigned to the Satellite Recovery Program and eventually, NCOIC of the Doc Unit.

From 1984 until retirement in 1989, Pat was assigned to Wright Patterson as NCOIC of the Technical Photographic Division Video Production Unit.

He says there are way too many great jobs, flights and locations to even try and pick the most fantastic experience.

Now retired, SMSgt Patrick Knowles always considered he had the BEST job in the Air Force.

Mario Candia, Vice President

Mario is a native of Cochabamba, Bolivia. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1964, after a year of being in the United States. After training at Lackland AFB, TDY to Lowry AFB and later attended the Photo School there. Upon graduation, he transferred to the Base Photo Lab, Denver, CO.

In 1966, he was sent TDY to SEA Det 4, 600th photo Sqdn, Cam Ranh Bay. As a Combat-Aerial photographer, he covered several missions; such as Junction City Operation, 439L Submarine Cable Project in the South China Sea to improve communication in the region, covered President Johnson’s visit to Viet-Nam among others. He transferred to help build DET, 16, Phu Cat AFB home of the Famous Super FAC “Misty”. With them, he flew in the F-100D missions.

In 1967, he was assigned to 1365th AAVS, Det, 1 Andrews AFB, Washington D.C. documenting the Air Force role, and some functions at the White House, State Department, Pentagon, Defense Intelligence Agency labs. In 1968, he was honorably discharged.  He joined the SD Air National Guard assigned to the Intelligence Section for eight years.

In 1972,  joined the Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary of the US Air Force. He holds the rank of Lt.COL, Mission Pilot with several hundred hours of flying time, graduated from National Staff College, Maxwell AFB, National Search and Rescue School taught by the US Cost Guard. He participated in the International Air Cadet Exchange to France and Turkey.

He earned his degree in American Government and International Affairs/Spanish at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD and taught photography at the University while being head of the Photo Lab.

He held a Pilots license and had his own business as Aerial and Commercial Photography.

In 1981, he began working as a  (Contract)Escort/Interpreter for the US Department of State traveling throughout United Staes with dignitaries invited by the US government.

In 1991, he began working for the US Department of Justice, as Language Interpreter in the Immigration Court in Chicago, IL and after 20 years retired from the Federal Government.

Mario has also retired from refereeing Soccer (50 yrs) one his passions. He holds the license of State Referee, State Referee Instructor, Assessor and Assignor in the US Soccer Federation, and National Intercollegiate Soccer Association and US Amateur Soccer Association.

Marge Barshaw, Secretary

Marge is the wife of CMSgt James Barschow, Senior Flight Examiner from Headquarters AAVS. She graciously volunteered to help Combat Camera by serving as one of our secretaries. She resides in Highland, CA.

Susan Diomedes, Secretary

Susan is the wife of SSgt DJ Diomedes, Headquarters AVVS Production Unit as 1st Cameraman and Director of Photography. Susan has lent outstanding support to Combat Camera at numerous reunions and serves as one of our secretaries. Susan and DJ reside near Ontario CA.

Pat Nugent, Treasurer

Pat served in the Air Force from 1969 to 1992. He was a Parachute Rigger and an F-100 pilot ejected using the parachute that he packed, but his love was photography and he eventually became a photographer. His Aerospace Audiovisual Service/Combat Camera career began when he was selected in 1984 to attend the Military Photojournalism program at Syracuse University. His assignments after graduation took him to Rhein Main AB, Germany and then to Norton AFB, CA where he was involved in the Electronic Imaging Center (EIC) introduction and implementation until he retired as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1992.

Barb Zimmerman, Member at Large

Zimm served in the AF from 1977 to 1985. Fell in love with photography and planes at Sumter AFB, SC. She volunteered constantly to photo the fun and the not so fun. This led to cool stuff like Helo Rodeos, marine jumps and anything to get out of the office (yes, even awards). Eyes were set on a applying as a  Thunderbird photographer so she swapped to Nellis AFB, NV. Not to be, so she volunteered for Kunsan AFB, Korea. OMG the fun assignments with the base newspaper plus the assignments with the PJ’s. Then, off to Hickam AFB, HA. More assignments with the PJ’s (thx guys!!). Flying status and private flying lessons were both achieved. Zimm left for ROTC 1985-1987 to finish Radio/TV degree, her AAVS officer slot  turned to missiles in Dakota. NOOOO, not gonna be! Out of AF and off as a civilian to LA Air Station, then off to Moffett Field. Equipment and job description she dreamed of but not be. Opened her own high end photo and video studio in San Jose for 14 years. Left photo for real estate in Vegas. Loves her life thanks to Hackman, the fantastic PJ’s and especially always adapting and having a plan B.

Rene Tyron, Member at Large

Renée is a native of Tucson, Arizona and joined the Arizona Air National Guard in 1979 as a still photographer and transferred to the active duty US Air Force the following year and ultimately attained the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. She served in a variety of CONUS, overseas and deployed assignments across the Air Force as a still photographer, aerial videographer and visual information manager at the squadron, detachment and wing level including three assignments with AAVS & Combat Camera: one tour with the 1367th AVS at RAF Lakenheath, UK and two tours with the 1st Combat Camera Squadron at Wright-Patterson and Charleston AFBs. Other highlights include Nellis AFB, NV, the United Kingdom; Okinawa, Japan; Osan AB, Republic of Korea; Hickam AFB, HI; Germany; Italy; Croatia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Afghanistan; Iraq; Qatar and Kuwait.

Renée earned degrees in Audiovisual Production from the Community College of the Air Force and Radio, TV and Film from the University of Maryland. She culminated her Air Force career as the Chief Enlisted Manager of Ninth Air Force and United States Air Forces Central Public Affairs where she oversaw more than 200 deployed USAF public affairs, combat camera, VI and USAF band professionals at 20 expeditionary and joint warfighting installations throughout the US Central Command Area of Responsibility. She retired from the Air Force after 30 years in October 2009.

Currently, Renée is the civilian Director of Operations for the 1st Combat Camera Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. She is responsible for leading and directing the planning, programming, coordination, and operations of multimedia documentation, audiovisual productions and Combat Camera mobility of the squadron. She is also responsible for maintaining Combat Camera forces in order to provide critical operational imagery products and life cycle-management in support of Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defense, Unified Commands and Air Force mission requirements.  She deploys combat ready teams worldwide on short notice to record military and allied operations to meet strategic, operational, tactical and historical requirements. In addition, she shares responsibility with the unit commander in directing the activities of the 107-member squadron.

Mike Potochick, Member at Large

Mike entered active-duty into the Air Force is the second lieutenant and from 1962 to 1964 he was assigned as a production supervisor of commercial films for the Air Force.  He was working with commercial film studios in New York, Miami, Chicago, San Antonio and Hollywood for production of films for the Air Force where he was spending approximately 230 days TDY per year with the studios.

From 1964 to 1965 Mike was assigned as commander and the only officer of Air Force Combat photographers in Southeast Asia. He supervised approximately six operating locations in Vietnam and Thailand, acquiring strike and operational Film and stills of all Air Force operations in Southeast Asia. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Air Medal and the Commendation Medal.

From1965 to 1967 he was assigned to Lookout Mountain AFS to process and review films and still photos from Southeast Asia and expedited these to the Pentagon.

In 1967 he separated from active duty in the Air Force.

Jim Pearson, Member at Large

Jim served in the Air Force from 1971 to 1995. He became part of the Aerospace Audiovisual Service/Combat Camera when he was selected in 1977 to attend the Military Photojournalism program at Syracuse University. Upon graduation in 1978 he began his career with AAVS and Combat Camera at Rhein Main AB, Germany. Over the years, he served in numerous locations via PCS and TDYs, including, Norton AFB, CA, Clark AB, Philippines and March AFB, CA until he retired in 1995 at the rank of Master Sergeant.

Upon retirement he took a job as photojournalist and Information Technology Manager for The Messenger Newspaper in Madisonville, Ky. He brought the newspaper from the paste up era into the digital age and won many state and local awards for his photography over the 17 years he worked there until he retired in 2013.

Currently he and his sister April run a small Web Design Hosting business that caters to local customers, acts as the president of the West Kentucky Photography Club and pursues his photographic passions of photographing trains and his family.