New aviators receive wings during Class 26-06 graduation

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  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Twenty-three students in Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 26-06 received their wings during a ceremony held Feb. 27 at Vance Air Force Base.

The newly pinned pilots completed their initial aviation training at Vance and will continue in either the T-38 Talon here or in their assigned aircraft at their next base.

The graduation speaker at the Class 26-06 ceremony was Air Force Col. Richard Kind, the 97th Air Mobility Wing commander at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. 

Kind earned his pilot wings at Vance Air Force Base in July 2002. He is a command pilot with more than 3,900 hours in the T-37B, T-1A, C-17A and the C-40.

Class 26-06 award winners were:
2nd Lt. Levon Tabirian received the Academic Award;
Capt. Miles Rivera received the Leadership Award and the Wingman Award;
1st Lt. Brasen Phua Chai Ann received the Flying Training Award and was named a Distinguished Graduate;
Capt. Austin Tausch received the Air Education & Training Command Commander’s Trophy and was named a Distinguished Graduate.

Also receiving their pilot wings during the ceremony were:
Capt. Rachel Loh
1st Lt. Anthony Macaluso
2nd Lt. Evelyn Anderson
2nd Lt. Tyler Babcock
2nd Lt. Jace Brennan
2nd Lt. Jens Enga
2nd Lt. Madilynn Kieling
2nd Lt. Cole Kopperud
2nd Lt. Collin Mills
2nd Lt. Jake Myers
2nd Lt. Daniel Nichols
2nd Lt. Joshua O'Reilly
2nd Lt. Ian Reid
2nd Lt. Sydnie Schwenk
2nd Lt. Brennan Sharp
2nd Lt. Aaron Somma
2nd Lt. Brock Wranik
2nd Lt. Carlton Young
2nd Lt. Nathan Zullig