James K. Tabor, a graduate of Mt. Rainier High School, Class of 1980, joined the U.S. Navy and after completing boot camp in San Diego, Calif. He became the second Honor Graduate from the School of Electronics in the Memphis, Tenn,, area. He was also the first Honor Graduate from all three Electronic Courses in Pensacola, FL to become an Airborne Electronics Warfare Operator.

In March, 2007 he retired from the U.S. Navy after 26 years of service where he attained the rank of E-8 Senior Chief Petty Officer.

During his service he completed three tours overseas, living and deployed out of Rota, Spain for 10 years; seven deployment on aircraft carriers including the USS Saratoga CV-60; USS Eisenhower CVN-69; USS America CV-66; USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71 and USS George Washington CVN-73.

His deployments and travels took his to 34 countries, throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean and included action in Lebanon, Libya, Israel, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq where he flew reconnaissance missions as an Electronic Warfare Operator on board EP-3E and EA-38 aircraft, earning 21 medals of commendation, five achievement and numerous expeditionary medals for the above war zones and the International incident of the Italian Cruise Liner Achille Lauro.

Jim recently spent six weeks in the Pacific Northwest visiting his mother, Elaine Tabor, brothers, sisters and friends. He currently lives in Virgina Beach, VA. with his wife, Liz and his daughter Jennifer. He is the son of Elaine Tabor of Seattle WA. and James Tabor (deceased).