KELSO NATIVE INVITED TO WHITE HOUSE

KELSO-- A native of this small Southeast Missouri town briefed the U.S. Air Force chief of staff about Scott O'Grady, the fighter pilot shot down over Bosnia two weeks ago.

1st Lt. Kimberly Joos, who now works at the Pentagon, provided background information and specifics of the Bosnian Serb air-defense system responsible for the downing June 2 of Scott O'Grady, a 29-year-old U.S. Air Force pilot who survived for six days in the Bosnian countryside on rainwater.

Junior officers, such as Joos, rarely brief officials but she was one of the few experts available at the time.

"It's kind of atypical," Joos said. "I went in at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday for technical support."

Afterwards the other officers decided to inform the chief of staff about the situation, so Joos prepared the brief and delivered it June 4.

Since then, Lt. Joos has been invited to attend a welcoming ceremony for O'Grady and his family today at the White House.

"I feel like there have got to be other people who have put in more effort than me," she said. "You don't see junior officers doing this, so it's really a treat for me."

Even though Joos doesn't know Capt. O'Grady personally, she said it was wonderful to know that one more pilot would make it home safely.

"I think that's what pushes me to work so hard," she said. "I know there are other pilots that have families that they want to come home to and one of them happens to be mine."

Joos' husband is an Air Force pilot stationed in Abilene, Texas. The couple, who met as students at Southeast Missouri State University, hope to be stationed together soon.

As an Air Force intelligence officer, she informs government officials about world events and happenings. Joos specializes in the Far East Asia region.

Most intelligence duties involve maintaining an up-to-date status on a threat country. Officials like to be able to provide a good estimate of what U.S. pilots are flying against, Joos said.

Joos was stationed in Korea last year and kept officials informed about the ongoing missile crisis there.

"She always tells me, `Dad, if I told you information I'd have to kill you,'" her father Jimmy R. Jones said. "It's pretty closed-mouth".

But that doesn't stop him and his wife from watching the newscasts and reading the papers more closely.

"She always tells me that she doesn't know any more than I do," he said.

Most things are classified, and Joos doesn't have the authority to release the information.

Joos has been in the Air Force for three years. She joined the ROTC program while attending Southeast Missouri State University. She graduated in 1991 with a degree in psychology. In May, she will earn a master's degree from Georgetown University. She will also earn the rank of captain in October.