Kenneth B. Cottingham

Chief Master Sergeant Kenneth B. Cottingham, USAF, Retired

Chief Cottingham grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and entered the United States Air Force in September 1981 serving a number of tours of duty to include HQ AFPC – Randolph, AFB, TX, 36^th FW, Bitburg AB, Germany, the Office of the Secretary of Defense - Pentagon, Washington, DC, Joint Staff Operations (J-3), Pentagon, American Embassy, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1^st Communications Squadron, Langley AFB, VA and Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon.  

Chief Cottingham retired from the USAF September 30, 2011 following a 30-year career of service.  When he departed this life on January 6, 2019, he was a dedicated employee serving as Director, Executive Secretariat in the Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services.

While his life certainly consisted of many personal as well as professional accomplishments, Chief Cottingham will be most remembered for his infallible love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his undying show of love and support for his wife of 35 years, Janice Evette Cottingham, their children Niteasha Lars Hamilton, Yitiki Lars, Derrick Lars, and Brittney Cottingham and his beloved grandchildren, Josie, Adia, Joshua and Aiden.

He strived to be a good person in the eyes of God, to treat others as he would want to be treated, to be an honorable man, to lead by example, to be a loyal, loving, supportive and trustworthy husband, father, grandpa, son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew, cousin, friend, mentor and neighbor.

He succeeded.