Creative force bids farewell to recruiting Published Feb. 14, 2014 By Tech. Sgt. Hillary Stonemetz Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- As a child growing up in Boulder, Colo., Ronn Linn, Air Force Recruiting Service art director, taught himself to draw by watching television programs that provided step-by-step instructions. "I watched those shows every Saturday instead of watching cartoons," he said. In addition to his love of art, he also wanted to travel and he craved adventure. After high school, Linn enlisted in the Navy as a signalman in 1971. "I wanted to go to Vietnam," Linn said. "I wanted to be on a swift boat or patrol boat, but they sent me to Rhode Island instead." Somewhat disappointed, Linn separated from the Navy after two years and decided to continue his passion for art through a career in graphic design. He earned a degree in communication arts at the Colorado Institute of Art in Denver and worked a variety of graphic design jobs before entering Air Force civil service in 1984. He will retire from Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, Feb. 28. "Ronn has made significant contributions to the team," said Col. Marcus Johnson, AFRS Strategic Marketing division chief. "I'm going to miss him and his sense of humor. It has been a pleasure working with him." "Before I joined civil service, I did freelance work for advertising agencies," Linn said. "I did tourism brochures for Alaska, real estate booklets, posters, and designed logos. Back then, we didn't use computers. Computers have really increased productivity. An artist now has so much more control over the final project." After working several years as a freelance graphic designer, he wanted a job that was more interesting and allowed him to travel. "I never wanted to stay at a job for long before I joined civil service," Linn said. "I would get bored and want to move on." Throughout his civil service career, Linn has travelled the globe and created thousands of posters and brochures. He was at the Air Force Academy and in Europe for a total of nine years, at Lowry Air Force Base, Colo., for two years, and has been at AFRS for the past 18. "I love the interesting TDYs and working with creative people," he said. "I met Tom Cruise in a NASCAR pit in Atlanta about six years ago. I was working as a photographer for AFRS." He also met Arnold Schwarzenegger at a body building competition in Columbus, Ohio. Schwarzenegger did a public service announcement for the Air Force and Linn took photos during the taping. In the early 1990s, Linn entered an Air Force-wide competition to design a logo for Air Force Services Outdoor Recreation. His design won the competition and the logo is still being used today. "The prize was $200 and a backpack," he said. Since he started working for AFRS 18 years ago, Linn has designed eight of the 12 "Red, White, and Air Force Blue Christmas" special CD covers. He has also designed many posters, some featuring Battlefield Airmen, all types of recruiting literature including fact folders, brochures as well as billboards. "The creative process can either be instantaneous or it could take a couple of weeks," Linn said. "I roll ideas over in my mind to figure out what works and what doesn't work. Sometimes I find inspirations in magazines or in my dreams." Linn's retirement will be bittersweet for him and many of his coworkers. "Ronn is a creative force," said Dale Eckroth, AFRS Strategic Marketing Division writer. "He's the most creative person I've ever met. I've learned a lot from him. He's a great coworker and friend who I'm going to miss. We are losing one of the most talented graphic artists in the Air Force." "I really enjoy working here," Linn said. "I enjoyed all the experiences and the Air Force is like a big family to me." When Linn retires he will continue to sketch and paint. He has an art studio set up in his house and creates what he calls graphic expressionism. "I love facial emotions," he said. "I paint people using watercolor or acrylic. I've sold a few paintings, but I mostly do it for myself." He will also devote more time to his other interests such as hiking, antiquing, travelling and photography.