COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Brig. Gen. Patrick Mordente, 18th Air Force Vice Commander, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, visited Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, as the guest speaker for Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 16-10’s graduation June 10.
Mordente entered the Air Force in 1987 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and earned his pilot wings in 1988. His operational assignments include duty as a T-37 and C-130 instructor pilot and C-130 evaluator. Mordente has commanded an airlift squadron, expeditionary airlift squadron, operations group and air expeditionary wing.
Not only was the day special for the graduates of SUPT class 16-10, but also for Mordente.
“Good morning and thank you for allowing me to be here today to share in this momentous occasion,” Mordente said. “Today is a special day for me also; 28 years ago today, I walked across this very stage and received my wings right here at Columbus Air Force Base.”
Mordente began by thanking the graduate’s families for helping them get to this point and spoke of the challenges the graduates would face in the years to come. Mordente charged the graduates to change their mindset and to focus on being the best pilot and officer possible.
“Today is a huge milestone in your life,” Mordente said. “You have earned the prestigious wings of an Air Force pilot. Never forget the privilege that you have been given and never, never stop learning. When I graduated from pilot training, my mindset was to be the best pilot I could be, and throughout my career that evolved into being the best officer I could be. All this to say the best piece of advice would be to bloom where you are planted. Don’t focus too much on the future and it will all fall into place.”
He encouraged the new pilots to never forget they were trained by the best of the best and to give back by doing the same.
“Once you have mastered the art and science of aviation, it’s time to give that gift to the next generation,” Mordente said. “You owe it to those who did the same for you, and you owe it to this nation to ensure we continue to have the best Air Force the world has ever known.”
Mordente closed with a final congratulations and a welcome home.
“To most people, the sky is the limit,” Mordente said. “To those who fly, the sky is home. Congratulations Class 16-10; welcome home.”