Staff Sargent Tom Prohaska served in the U.S. Army and now works on Redstone Arsenal. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Tom Prohaska entered the U.S. Army in fall of 1980.

“Fort Benning, Ga. was home for the next four months of Basic, Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and Jump School. It varied from steamy summer rain and ending in snow at jump school,” Prohaska said.

His first assignment was 2/75th Rangers at Fort Lewis, Wash. Prohaska then served in Charlie Airborne at Fort Richardson, Alaska and finished Jump Master School. Next, he was assigned to Signal School at Fort Gordon, Ga.

“Then finally, I was stationed at HHC MICOM Redstone Arsenal, Ala. in 1986,” Prohaska said. He remained in the U.S. Army for nine-plus years and left active service as a Staff Sergeant (or E-6).

While at Redstone Arsenal, he was on the High Power Rifle Team. While working on the arsenal, “I met my beautiful wife, Sharon. We have been married since 1988,” Prohaska said.

His co-worker, then turned boss, Robert Epps convinced Prohaska to take night school classes. Prohaska earned an associate’s degree in applied mathematics from Calhoun Community College, a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1993 and a master’s degree in engineering management (system engineering) from UAH in 2009.

Currently, Prohaska works as an electronics engineer for the U.S. Army.

In community service, Prohaska volunteers as a board member for Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and often serves as technical director and builds sets for productions. He also shoots fireworks for Pyro Productions and coordinated the fireworks show for The Village of Providence on July 4, 2015.

Woodworking is his hobby. He serves on the board of a local wood club, Northern Alabama Wood Crafters.

“To-date, I have completed turning 170 wooden (ink) pens for the Turn for Troops, sponsored by Woodcraft,” he said. Turn for Troops ships the handsome ink pens and notes of appreciation to American troops on active duty or in rehabilitation.