Twenty-two UPT graduates receive their wings May 25

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  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Twenty-two students in Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 23-10 received their wings during a ceremony held May 25 at Vance Air Force Base.

Having completed their initial aviation training in the T-6A Texan II, the newly pinned pilots will continue in either the T-1A Jayhawk or the T-38C Talon training aircraft at Vance.

The guest speaker at the Class 23-10 graduation ceremony was retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Krumm, whose last active-duty assignment was as commander of the Alaskan Region, North American Aerospace Defense Command at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Krumm received his Air Force pilot wings at Vance in 1991. His daughter, 2nd Lt. Katherine Krumm, was among the Class 23-10 graduates receiving wings during the ceremony.

The Class 23-10 award winners were:
2nd Lt. Austin Cole received the Academic Award;
Capt. Matthew Kellum received the Leadership Award;
Capt. Bryce Coulson received the Flying Training Award, the Air Education & Training Command Commander’s Trophy and was named a Distinguished Graduate;
2nd Lt. Jacob Hoppe received the Wingman Award and was named a Distinguished Graduate.

Also receiving their pilot wings during the ceremony were: Capt. Kenneth Griffing III; 2nd Lts. Nick Barth, Jason Brown, Joshua Byrd, Ryan Cauchon, Owen Dunne, Noah Griffin, Jonathan Groesz, Forrest Hargett, Mostafa Kalakesh, Riley Neimo, Drew Ness, Collin Reed, Matthew Riechers, Nicholas Serpico, Dannielle Southard and Jacqueline Thompson.