Henry joined Civil Air Patrol as a cadet in 1951 in the South St. Paul Squadron, Minnesota Wing. He rose to the grade of Cadet Captain before his departure to attend the fledging Air Force Academy. He was appointed as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force and awarded of Navigator wings in Jun 1961 upon his graduation from the Academy. He was assigned to McChord AFB, Tacoma Washington as a Navigator in C-124 Globemaster transports. His first CAP command was as the Commander of the McChord Cadet Squadron, Washington Wing.

Following an Air Force career that spanned almost 28 years, Lt Col Howe, USAF, retired. Following his Air Force retirement, he has held engineering and management positions with Collins Radio, North American Aircraft, Boeing, Raytheon, E-Systems and L-3 Communications He has served in the Minnesota, Washington, Iowa, Louisiana and Texas Wings of Civil Air Patrol.

His Air Force Decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Meritorious Service medals, three Air Medals, and numerous campaign and service awards. He served in Viet Nam as a navigator on EC-47 and was instrumental in the initial development and flight testing of the RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft.

His Civil Air Patrol achievements include the Certificate of Proficiency, Grover Loering Aerospace Award, Paul E. Garber Award, and the Gill Robb Wilson Award. He has been recognized as Squadron Commander of the Year in Iowa Wing, Wing Commander's Award of Excellence from the Louisiana Wing, and the Waco Composite Squadron Senior Member of the Year in Texas Wing.

Lt Col Howe is currently serving as the Nighthawk Composite Squadron Communications Officer and the Group II Communications Officer.

He has held a commercial General Radiotelephone Operator license since he was in 9 th grade. He is also an Extra Class Amateur Radio operator (WA0DLF).