Charles Gifford Ploetz

It is with the greatest sadness that the family of Colonel Charles Gifford “Giff” Ploetz, USAF, announces his sudden and unexpected death on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at the age of 50. He will be dearly remembered as a loving son, husband, father, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin, and friend. He would love for all of you to remember the good times that you shared.

Born on September 8, 1973, Giff was the first of two sons born to Lt Col (then Capt.) Charles F. and Donna Jo (Gifford} Ploetz at Hahn AFB, Germany. As a military ‘brat’, Giff grew up in Germany, California, New Mexico, Virginia, and Texas. Giff and his brother Ben were outstanding athletes and excelled at soccer, baseball, football and track and field, winning innumerable championships. Giff graduated from Chantilly High School in Virginia in 1992, where he was an All-American pole vaulter, and remains in their Track and Field Hall of Fame. Following the Air Force retirement of his father in San Antonio, Giff attended Southwest Texas State University on a track and field scholarship as a pole vaulter and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource and Environmental Studies in 1996.

Following graduation, Giff worked for two years as an environmental consultant for contractors that built landfills, many on Air Force bases. During this time, he decided he would like to join the Air Force and completed advanced ROTC while completing his Master of Science degree in Environmental Science at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant by his father on graduation in June of 2000.

Following graduation and commissioning, Giff married the love of his life, Michelle Rivera, whom he had met and dated since attending Southwest Texas State, on June 10, 2000. Giff began his military career as an aircraft maintenance officer and Flight Commander at Mountain Home AFB in Boise, Idaho. Subsequently, he held various field, command and staff positions in logistics and aircraft maintenance, primarily with F-35, F-15E, F-16 and HH-60 aircraft and was deployed to Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan in support of Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom. His assignments took him to Idaho, Germany twice, Nevada, Alabama, Korea, Arizona, Virginia and Maryland. His assignments included being the Maintenance Officer for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, an instructor for Squadron Officers School, Commander of one training detachment and three aircraft maintenance squadrons, Training Group Commander, and senior staff positions at the Pentagon, Headquarters USAF Europe and Africa, and Air National Guard Headquarters. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, numerous foreign service medals, eight meritorious and outstanding unit awards, and many USAF outstanding leadership awards. Giff was also a graduate of Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College, and the Air War College.

Giff was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather and grandmother, Colonel Frederick F. and Thelma Ploetz, and his maternal grandfather Lt. Col. Richard Gifford.

Survivors include his wife Michelle, son Colton Lee, and daughters Peyton and Brenna; his parents, Charlie and Donna Ploetz of San Antonio; his brother Ben Ploetz and wife Angela and their two daughters Ella and Evelyn of Round Rock, TX,; his in-laws Joe and Janey Rivera, Alex Rivera, and sister Missy Rivera Payne of Round Rock, TX; his grandmother Jo Gifford of Waco, TX; his many, many aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews; and numerous friends and fellow service members.

A celebration of Giff’s life will be held at 4pm on Saturday, 9 December 2023, at Porter Loring North Funeral Home in San Antonio, and he will be buried with full military honors at 1:45pm on Wednesday, 13 December 2023, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.