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KD4IZ, Jack Spitznagel, Candidate for Director in Dec 2020 Election

Name: Jack (John K.) Spitznagel  
QTH: Parkton, MD
ECARS History:
-    Member Since: approximately 2018. Lif etime member # 40057
-    Previous Offices/Duties: NCS since 2019, Elections Committee 2019
-    Current Net Control Operator: Yes, Wednesday 11-12.

Other Amateur Radio History:
Licensed in 1978. First became interested in radio while growing up in North Carolina, becoming an avid SWL and AM broadcast DX’er. A neighbor introduced me to amateur radio around 1961. I discovered then that my father had always wanted to get a license too. We started working on our novice ticket together but we never could manage the 5-hour drive to the nearest FCC offices.

 In spite of many interruptions, I never lost my interest in radio and continued to experiment and SWL. In 1971, I enlisted in the USCG and after basic training was quickly assigned to become an electronics technician. After that was assigned to crypto communications school, then to a tour on the USCGC Chase.  Mid-enlistment, I was asked to teach and transferred to the USCG Electronics TRACEN in NY.

I earned my amateur license after discharge and have been active since. After many years as a legacy Advanced licensee, I earned Extra class in 2016. Following my example and urging, my dad John, N4CGY, earned his license in the early 1980’s. He is still active at 97.

Current primary station: IC-7300 with an Elecraft KPA500 feeding a Carolina Windom 160 or a GAP Titan DX vertical.

Over the years I have volunteered for a number of positions with local clubs and regional organization with experience as an officer in some. Currently, in addition to serving as an NCS for ECARS, I am active on technical, instructor, and VE teams with my home club (K3AE Shrewsbury, PA), serve in the Baltimore County ACS organization where I am NCS for the Maryland D-Star MidAtlantic Net once a month. Recently I have begun to serve as a news editor for AMSAT News. I also serve as trustee for the USCGC Taney Radio Group callsign, NR3DT. In addition, I am an active member of the Medical Amateur Radio Council.

Personal Comments:
I am now “semi-retired” from dentistry and the biotech industry, so have dedicated my hobby time to serve in “pay-forward” positions where I have the interest and the time to help the hobby the way it helped me. The call to further serve ECARS as a Director is that golden opportunity to help return what ECARS has provided me; freely offered support and companionship, particularly when I was operating mobile or just looking for help while checking out my equipment.

I enjoy mini-farming, camping, backpacking, hiking, SCUBA diving, and fly fishing. I try to combine my radio interests with my other hobbies (well maybe not SCUBA diving… yet!) and I am looking forward to doing some SOTA and POTA activations now that the weather is cooler. 

Thanks much for your support!