George P. Kistner III (Tripp in HS)

After graduation, I served as a hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy for four years. After serving my country, I went to work for Breed Technologies in Lakeland for 13 years becoming records manager and head of engineering technical services for the Lakeland office. In 2000, I moved to Brevard County where I finished my degree in History at the University of Central Florida..."Go Knights!" I went to work for NASA at Kennedy Space Center and was Manager of KSC technical Records Center and subject matter expert on the Space Shuttle Program. I was a member of the Space Shuttle Transition and Retirement Team, working with the National Archives in preserving of half a million shuttle documents, pictures and videos for the National Archives and Smithsonian Institution. I left KSC in 2012 and took a brief position in Aiken SC to build the business records program for the Department of Energy's Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility. In 2014 I began my current position with the Canaveral Port Authority as the head of the department of archives, history and records at Port Canaveral, the second busiest cruise port in the world. Here, I have built the department, being the first records manager in the history of the port. In my everyday business, I handle all public records requests, document control and compliance, archives and history, conducting historical tours and speaking engagements for the port. I am a graduate of the Leadership Brevard class of 2020 and since 2018 have served on the Brevard County Historical Commission, currently serving as chairman. I am married to my beautiful wife Mary, who also works for the Port. I have a wonderful stepson Bryson who is 21 and I will have the privilege of marrying he and his fiancee in November. I love history, genealogy and Mary and I love cruising and fishing on our boat.

I was born and raised in Lakeland. I am a third generation Floridian. My great grandparents were pioneers of Central Florida, helping to establish the city of Winter Haven. My family has been in Florida for 124 years. My grandmother graduated from Winter Haven HS, my grandfather from Bartow HS and my dad graduated from LHS in in 1959. I was known as Tripp in HS because I am George P. Kistner III, and Tripp was nickname for triple. I was in Band and played the trombone. I can't believe it has been 40 years since we graduated. I have known some of you since kindergarten at St. Paul Lutheran and elementary school at Carlton Palmore. That is like 53 years ago! I can't wait for the reunion and catching up with old classmates ones I knew and ones I didn't! Go Dreadnaughts!!