Bret Knight

Ancestors

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bret Knight [send private message]

Biography

Bret was born and raised in Northern California. He lived and attended school in San Leandro, Sacramento (North Highlands), Manteca, and Stockton. He attended high school at Amos Alonzo Stagg HS his sophomore year and Alternative (later Pacific Horizons) HS in his junior and senior years (Class of 1976).

In late 1975 Bret dropped out of school and enlisted in the United States Air Force as a security policeman. After completing his training, he served at March AFB in Riverside, CA. He completed a GED one year later (1977). In 1979 he cross-trained into the aircraft loadmaster career field and following his training transferred to Norton AFB in San Bernardino, CA where he served on active duty until late 1987. Bret traveled extensively as an aircrew member on a C-141 transport aircraft for the next 7 years frequenting locations like Hawaii, Alaska, the Philippine Islands, Japan, and South Korea and occasionally visiting locations in Europe, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and Central and South America in addition to many locations within the lower 48 states of the USA. In late 1987 Bret transferred to the active USAF reserve component to attend school full-time, he remained a loadmaster at both Norton AFB and later March ARB where his flying unit moved.

In 1991 Bret graduated from California State University with Bachelors of Art degree (graphic design emphasis), that same year in late June he married Karen Melendrez. Following his graduation Bret became a lecturer in the Art department at San Bernardino Valley College where he taught classes in Desktop Publishing and Photography. Bret was also a lecturer and graduate assistant at California State University, San Bernardino in the Education department where he taught student teachers basic computer skills. In 1995 Bret became a trainer and web developer for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. That same year he retired from the USAFR. Subsequently Bret held a number of Information Technology related positions with companies in both Los Angeles and San Diego.

In 2000 he began working for Apple computer as a Systems Engineer in their K12 Education division. He aided many teachers, principals, school district technology and IT directors and superintendents in making key decisions about learning technology for their students. Additionally he supported them directly by installing and supporting network servers and workstations in school libraries, laboratories and classrooms.

In 2006 Bret left Apple and started an IT consulting business, that same year he and his wife Karen started a small retail business offering fragrance oil and incense at Farmers Markets in the area. In 2014, following the passing of Karen's mother Jean, Bret and Karen began traveling to small Renaissance Faires and similar public events selling their fragrance products. Their travels took them from Yuma, AZ to Bonney Lake, WA

In 2017 Bret and Karen "soft retired" and landed in the driveway of Karen's sister Deborah Mitchell where they continue to reside in their 34-foot motor home. Bret formally retired (began receiving his pension and benefits) from the USAFR in 2018 at the age of 60 and began drawing Social Security at the end of 2020 at age 62. The original plan was for them to take their "medicine show" back on the road in 2020, but COVID-19 happened.

Sources

• First-hand information. Entered by Bret Knight at registration.