Col (Ret) George Kotti was born and raised in Lead, SD and upon graduation from Lead High School attended the United States Air Force Academy where he received a BS degree in Civil Engineering.  He also has a MS degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, OH in Civil Engineering Facilities.  Col Kotti served a distinguished career in the Air Force, retiring after over 30 years of active duty service to the nation.  He is a command pilot with almost 3,000 flying hours, mostly in the KC-135, T-37, T-38, and T-39 aircraft.  While in the Air Force, Col Kotti held several operational flying positions along with several high level command and staff positions to include technology research and large scale MX basing validation testing as a scientist/engineer with the Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, NM;  KC135R Modernization Program Manager at Strategic Air Command Headquarters, Offutt AFB, NE; 71^st  Air Refueling Squadron Commander, Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations, Base Commander and 2^nd Support Commander, Headquarters 8^th Air Force, Barksdale AFB, LA;  and finally as the Inspector General, 28BW, Ellsworth AFB, SD.  He is a veteran of both Viet Nam and Desert Storm.

Upon retirement from the Air Force, Col Kotti ministered as an associate pastor in Rapid City, SD at First Assembly of God and at Trinity Lutheran Church.  He co-founded Restored Life Fellowship in Rapid City and retired from full time ministry to enter the marketplace.  He served as the Executive Director of the Hot Springs, SD Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development until he retired in 2011.  He currently serves as an elder at Southern Hills Evangelical Free Church in Hot Springs, SD.   He and his wife Marilyn have two children, a son, Dr. George Kotti III and his wife Kathryn, a daughter, Kimberly, plus three grandchildren.