COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Seventeen Undergraduate Pilot Training student pilots of Class 24-13, graduated on August 29, 2024, at the Columbus Event Center on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. The UPT graduation ceremony officially marks the completion of initial flight training in the T-6 Texan II as students earn their wings and begin the next phase of advanced pilot training for the Air Force’s newest pilots.
Pilots advance to graduate training in one of two new programs: Air Mobility Fundamentals, or Fighter/Bomber Fundamentals. These new programs, like UPT, capitalize on and incorporate modern training tools and methods that provide a unique advantage through innovation.
AMF currently leverages the “Mid-Tier Device,” a simulator that replicates the T-1A Jayhawk, to prepare graduates for mobility or tanker platforms. The Air Force’s first-ever F/BF class began at CAFB in June 2023. The new program both combines and streamlines legacy T-38 Graduate Pilot Training and T-38 Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals into a unified syllabus for graduates continuing to fighter or bomber platforms.
The Class 24-13 graduation speaker was Col. Kevin R. “Buddy” Lee, Air War College commander, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Col. Lee graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2000 and attended pilot training at Whiting Field, Florida., and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. His first assignment was to Moody AFB, Georgia. Flying the HC-130P “King,” he upgraded to instructor pilot and served in many positions including group executive officer. His next assignment was to Cannon AFB, New Mexico, where he flew the MC-130W “Combat Spear” and the MC-130W “Dragon Spear.” From 2012 to 2014, he served on staff at Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Following this assignment, he went to Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, and commanded the 58th Training Squadron. From July 2018 to June 2021, he was the branch chief for Future Operations-West Africa, USAFRICOM, Stuttgart, Germany. He has also served as Commander, 409th Air Expeditionary Group, Air Base 201, Agadez, Niger.
Students are also recognized with additional accolades through academic and professional military achievement such as: Order of Daedalians AETC Commander’s Trophy, Distinguished Graduate Award, Academic Award, Military Training Award and Flying Training Award.
CLASS 24-13 Graduates
2nd Lt. Nahyan T. Alarfaj (International Training Award)
2nd Lt. Sultan M. Alsuwayt (International Training Award)
2nd Lt. Andrew P. Bird
1st Lt. James E. Chase (Air Education and Training Command Commander’s Trophy, Distinguished Graduate Award, Flying Training Award)
1st Lt. Christopher J. Dornak (Distinguished Graduate Award, Military Training Award)
2nd Lt. Tyler A. Duben
2nd Lt. Jonathon C. Enos
2nd Lt. Henry S. Erwin
1st Lt. Christopher E. Floyd
1st Lt. Georgia M. Ganster
1st Lt. Justin B. Hellman
1st Lt. Samantha R. Kazlausky
2nd Lt. Kristy D. Kelley (Academic Excellence Award)
1st Lt. Dalton T. King
1st Lt. Alyssa J. Naused
1st Lt. Michael J. Scilken
1st Lt. Vladimir K. Taskov (International Training Award)