Together we will make Queensbury a better place
to live, work, and visit.
• Dedicated to building a brighter future
• Bringing together people with diverse ideas
• Work to improve our infrastructure
• Continue the transition to sustainable energy
• Foster regional cooperation and reduce taxes
Bio:
Harrison Freer grew up as the second oldest of 9 children in a working-class family in Wappingers Falls, NY. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie, where he starred in football and track. He received an appointment to the US Air Force Academy in Colorado where he majored in Political Science and graduated in the top third of his class in 1976—the first in his family to attend college. He married the former Tricia Lambert in Queensbury in June of 1976. Mr. Freer then proceeded to pilot training and earned his pilot wings (with honors) in 1977. He was assigned in New Jersey, flying international cargo aircraft for 5 years. He then volunteered for an assignment to Alaska where Tricia and he lived for 3 years. Next came one of several school and staff assignments, where he earned a Master of Science in Space Operations at the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio.
He eventually returned to flying and flew in what has become known as Gulf War I, including combat support missions to and around the Middle East in 1990-1992. A Lieutenant Colonel at that time, Mr. Freer commanded the Global Positioning System (GPS) operations unit from 1992-1994. Under his watch the satellite system achieved initial operational capability in 1993. He also commanded a group in Germany responsible for European, African, and Middle East strategic airlift support in these regions. Two of his last 3 Air Force assignments were in the Pentagon where he worked primarily on countering weapons of mass destruction and space issues. He retired in August 2000.
Upon AF retirement, Mr. Freer took a management position with The Boeing Company in the metropolitan DC area and routinely traveled to Queensbury/Lake George, sometimes in his small plane. After 2 years in an executive position with Northrop Grumman in the DC area he joined a small start-up and permanently relocated to Queensbury in 2007. At that time, he and his wife purchased their home here to put down roots close to family and to enjoy skiing, hiking, biking and boating in the beautiful Adirondacks. They have 4 grown children, two sons of whom are Air Force officers, a daughter who is a lawyer in Oregon, and another son, who is a maintenance manager in suburban DC. The Freers also have 5 grandchildren who they see as often as possible.
Harrison has participated in many civic activities including; youth soccer coach and referee, US Swimming official, president of his military pilots’ Daedalian chapter, director of his church group (Knights of Columbus) largest fund raiser for more than 4 years, and Sunday school teacher. Currently, he is the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Airport Support Volunteer for the Warren County-Glens Falls airport and serves on the Feeder Canal Alliance Board. The Freers also hosted a HS foreign exchange student from Ecuador for the fall 2012 semester—a truly enriching experience. He is also the Chairperson of the Queensbury Zoning Board of Appeals.
