RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Five 12th Operations Group aviators were recently recognized with 19th Air Force Individual Flying Training Awards.
Capts. Lonnie Lingafelter, Christopher Floyd, Thomas Allen, Todd Grant and Maj. Jeffrey Wallace were all honored for accomplishments as pilot instructors during 2006.
Captain Lingafelter, 563rd Flying Training Squadron, was named the Undergraduate Electronic Warfare Instructor of the Year. Undergraduate Electronic Warfare instructors are responsible for training officers as they go through the Combat Systems Officer program to earn their wings.
Captain Lingafelter, a flight commander, was ranked number one of 13 exceptional suppression of enemy air defenses instructors, based on reviews from 135 advanced CSOs. As the squadron "front man" for a $40 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency partnership, he helped define electronic warfare, flight model, and navigator requirements. He flawlessly executed 1,600 academic and 4,000 simulator hours of advance electronic warfare concepts in 2006, with a 100 percent on-time graduation rate for 135 CSOs.
Captain Lingafelter was also touted as the key to the squadron earning two national level electronic warfare awards, the Old Crow's Modeling and Sim Award and Research and Development Award. In his spare time, Captain Lingafelter volunteered at Green Valley Elementary and for a number of projects within the squadron.
Captain Floyd, 563rd FTS, was named the Graduate Electronic Warfare Instructor of the Year.
Graduate Electronic Warfare instructors are responsible for training experienced aviators in the more advanced concepts of electronic warfare as they go out to support the Global War On Terrorism. They also instruct international officers and Department of Defense personnel in the basics of electronic warfare.
Captain Floyd, a flight commander, led nine officers and several civilian contractors in all aspects of four graduate-level electronic warfare courses. He spearheaded multi-service and multi-national programs for personnel, completing over 800 hours of instruction. He was ranked number one of three special training course directors, and was upgraded to become one of only ten squadron evaluators in the T-25 simulator for electronic combat training.
Captain Floyd was cited as an international training expert and the squadron's number one international ambassador, delivering the latest electronic warfare integration tactics for 50 allied partners, and being proficient in two languages. He was also recognized as the squadron company grade officer and flight commander of the quarter in 2006.
Captain Allen, 435th Fighter Training Squadron, was named the Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals Instructor Pilot of the Year.
Captain Allen was elected "Best Instructor Pilot" three times by student classes and performed more than 260 sorties as one of only two captain Upgrade Instructor Pilots. He was ranked number one of 35 instructor pilots in the squadron and was noted for superb instruction, resulting in a 100 percent aircrew graduation rate from his flying training unit.
As a daily scheduler, Captain Allen scheduled and executed more than 2,100 sorties and 2,000 flying hours. According to his award package, he is noted as a model of military bearing, customs and courtesies and for his "infectious enthusiasm," always being the first to volunteer for commander tasks. He was also awarded Instructor Pilot of the Quarter and twice earned squadron Flight Commander of the Quarter.
Major Wallace, 560rd FTS, was named the Undergraduate T-38 Pilot Instructor of the Year.
As a section chief, Major Wallace helped increase sortie production for Team Randolph by more than 20 percent from the previous quarter, despite 44 less participation days, with a total of more than 300 sorties. As an executive officer during the same period, Major Wallace managed officer performance reports and enlisted performance reports for the 100th FTS, processing all reports ahead of the deadline. He also managed the unit's recognition program, submitting eight quarterly awards packages and 15 Meritorious Service Medal nominations.
Major Wallace was ranked number one of 216 wing instructor pilots and was recognized with the Daughters of the American Revolution Instructor Pilot of the Year award. In his spare time, Major Wallace volunteered for the Boy Scouts, youth soccer, a local school and his church.
Captain Grant, 562nd FTS, was named the Undergraduate Navigator Instructor of the Year.
As a T-43A instructor, Captain Grant guided students to a 95 percent check ride pass average and a 100 percent on-time graduation rate. He was ranked number one of 165 navigator instructors in the 12th OG, and was named the group's Instructor Navigator of the Year. Captain Grant led the CSO syllabus development for the $65 million CSO base realignment and closure committee move to Naval Air Station Pensacola.
He was noted as paving the way for 21st-century CSO training by serving as the navigation courseware expert for the $7 million T-25 simulator upgrade. Noted as a "stand out leader" on his award package, Captain Grant was also active with a youth soccer team and volunteered more than 40 hours with the Red Cross.
All of the winners were recognized with a coin from Col. Richard Clark, 12th Flying Training Wing commander, earlier this month.