October C3 Airman of the Month: Pearson

  • Published
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Those who attended the POW/MIA retreat ceremony in September were wowed when they saw the T-38 Talon missing man formation flyover by the 49th Fighter Training Squadron.

What the attendees didn't see were the cost-conscious culture decisions being made behind the scenes to prepare for the flyover, saving the 14th Flying Training Wing nearly $10,000 in T-38 operating costs and allowing normal operations for 30 training sorties.

The flight lead, Maj. Todd "Buddha" Pearson worked with formation members Maj. Christopher "Rastar" Bodley, Maj. Kirby "Gat" Ensser "Capt. Johnathan "Yak" Garner to practice the flyover in T-38C Simulators, eliminating the required "sterilization" of the airspace that would have blocked takeoffs and landings and impacted the pilot training mission of the 14th FTW.