New aviators receive their wings during Class 25-09 graduation ceremony held May 2

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  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Twenty-three students in Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 25-09 received their wings during a ceremony held May 2 at Vance Air Force Base.

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

The guest speaker at the Class 25-09 graduation ceremony was Air Force Brig. Gen. Doug Jackson, the Deputy Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration at Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

Jackson is a command pilot with more than 4,400 flight hours. He earned his wings at Vance in 1998, and has flown the T–37B, T–1A, C–5A/B/C/M, KC–135R and RC–135W.

Class 25-09 award winners were:
1st Lt. Andrew Jariga received the Academic Award and was named a Distinguished Graduate;
Capt. William Phillips received the Leadership Award;
1st Lt. Drew Priest received the Flying Training Award, the Air Education & Training Command Commander’s Trophy and was named a Distinguished Graduate;
2nd Lt. Chelsea Ecat received the Wingman Award.

Also receiving their pilot wings during the ceremony were:
Capt. Timothy Blue
Capt. Adam Sampson
1st Lt. Noah Pritchard
2nd Lt. Mark Balashov
2nd Lt. Gergely Berta
2nd Lt. Colton Byrd
2nd Lt. Jonathan Cohrs
2nd Lt. Spencer Davidson
2nd Lt. Jack Faught
2nd Lt. Kiran Foster Veit
2nd Lt. Zachary Harmon
2nd Lt. Spencer Martindale
2nd Lt. Micah Mills
2nd Lt. Quinn Neely
2nd Lt. Samantha Palermo
2nd Lt. Richard Papp
2nd Lt. Travis Peirce
2nd Lt. Zachary Pentico
2nd Lt. Tristan Smith