It takes an incredible, highly trained team to carry out military orders with precision and grace… and it takes a talented team of framers to create a custom, handmade B-1 frame like this!
Recently at The Frame & I, we were honored to be a part of creating this hand crafted frame to showcase Col. Randy Kaufman’s military and professional career! We love a challenge, and a good story – and this project had both elements. When approached with the question, “Can you make a frame this shape?” We said YES! What made building this frame extra special was the career and credentials of the person behind the frame… Colonel Randy Kaufman. He has been an integral part of ERAU in Prescott for years. His military career speaks for itself. As a highly decorated officer, we salute you, Col. Kaufman! Thank you for your service, and thank you for challenging us to use our talents in recognition of that service.
Here you see Francine Hackerott working on the top side of the frame. She cut every little piece by hand to match the shape of the B-1 model.
Francine Hackerott, our Design Star winning carpenter, assembling the frame and the sides for added depth. Essentially two frames had to be built, and they had to match up perfectly! Great work, Francine.
The medals, patches and flag were all hand sewn or pinned in place. Here you see Frame & I manager, Russell Johnson, positioning a medal in place. 
Everest working on finishing the outside edges of the frame, making every cut and join look flawless…
Francine Hackerott and her son Everest Hackerott standing proud with the B-1 frame! It looks amazing!
COLONEL RANDY “RUDDER” KAUFMAN
Colonel Kaufman is the Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies for Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 028, at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona where he is responsible for the training and mentoring of over 300 cadets.
Col Kaufman received his commission from the Air Force Officer Training School in May 1989. He earned his pilot wings from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese Air Force Base, Texas in May 1990 and has served as a B-52 pilot, T-38 Specialized Undergraduate Instructor Pilot, B-1 aircraft commander, instructor pilot and evaluator pilot, and B-1 Formal Training Unit flight instructor. Col Kaufman has operational experience in Southeast Asia and flew one of the first B-1 combat missions during Operation DESERT FOX. He has served on the United States Pacific Command staff as strategic plans officer and executive officer to the Commander, Strategic Plans and Policy.
While assigned at Dyess Air Force Base he served as the 7th Bomb Wing Chief of Safety and the commander of the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron before becoming the 7th Operations Group Deputy Commander. He then served as the 36 Operations Group Commander at Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), Guam. Col Kaufman is the recipient of the Gen Curtis E. LeMay award for the “Best bomber crew in the USAF” and the Gen Ira C. Eaker award for the “Most Outstanding Airmanship” in Eighth Air Force. He is a Command Pilot with over 3400 total flying hours in the B-52, T-37, T-38 and the B-1.
Prior to his current position, Col Kaufman was the Fifth Air Force, Director, Operations and Plans, Pacific Air Forces, Yokota Air Base Japan.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, University of Redlands, Redlands, Calif.
1996 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1999 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, B-1 Division, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
2002 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport Naval Station, R.I.
2003 Master of Arts, Airpower Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Air War College (Correspondence)
2006 Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2010 Department of Defense Corporate Fellow, Senior Leader Development equivalent
ASSIGNMENTS
- May 1989 – May 1990, Student, specialized undergraduate pilot training, Reese AFB, Texas
- June 1990 – November 1990, Student, B-52 combat crew training, Castle AFB, Calif.
- November 1990 – May 1994, B-52 pilot, Senior Standardization Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 325th Bomb Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
- June 1994 – November 1994, Student, T-38 pilot instructor training, Randolph AFB, Texas
- November 1994 – May 1996, T-38 Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Instructor Pilot, Chief of Wing Programming, Reese AFB, Texas
- June 1996 – April 1997, student, B-1 Initial Qualification Course, Dyess AFB, Texas
- April 1997 – June 2000, B-1 Aircraft Commander/instructor pilot, Chief of Training, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB S.D.
- June 2000 – June 2002, B-1 Instructor/evaluator pilot, Chief of Faculty Training, Assistant Director of flying, chief B-1 flight instructor course, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
- July 2002 – June 2003, Student, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport NS, R.I.
- July 2003 – July 2004, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- July 2004 – March 2007, Strategic plans officer, Executive Assistant, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, United States Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii
- March 2007 – July 2008, Chief of Safety, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas
- July 2008 – August 2009, Commander, 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
- August 2009 – August 2010, Deputy Commander, 7th Operations Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
- August 2010 – June 2011, Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Fort Worth, Texas
- June 2011 – July 2013, Commander, 36th Operations Group, Andersen AFB Guam
- July 2013 – July 2015, Director, Operations and Plans, 5 Air Force, Yokota, Japan
- July 2015 – present, Commander, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 028, Prescott, AZ
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,400
Aircraft flown: B-1, T-38, T-37, B-52
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant May 4, 1989
First Lieutenant May 1, 1991
Captain May 1, 1993
Major Aug 1, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel Aug 1, 2005
Colonel Sep 1, 2010
(Current as of Sep 2017)