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CAFB UPT Class 25-04 Graduation

  • Published
  • By Airman Hayley Brown
  • 14 Flying Training Wing

Twenty-six Undergraduate Pilot Training student pilots of Class 25-04, graduated on January 17, 2025, 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 25-04 graduation speaker was General Glen D. VanHerck, the retired Commander of United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command from 2020 to 2024. General VanHerck is a graduate of the University of Missouri and commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Prior to USNORTHCOM, General VanHerck was the Director, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, in Arlington, Virginia. He assisted the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in his role as advisor to the President and Secretary of Defense. He directed the activities of the Joint Staff in support of the Chairman and served as the Staff Inspector General.

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 25-04 Graduates 

1st Lt. Lauren Aquino

2nd Lt. Alexa A. Baumgartner

Capt. William Behn (Military Training Award)

1st Lt. Thomas Beliveau

2nd Lt. Noah C. Brown

1st Lt. Evan D. Carmichael

2nd Lt. Alex T. Chase

2nd Lt. Cody D. Conroy

2nd Lt. Faith R. Coppola

1st Lt. David M. Denbow

2nd Lt. Daylen H. Dunn

2nd Lt. Daniel T. Goudis

2nd Lt. Alexander T. Hoelzel

2nd Lt. Eric J. Jens (Air Education and Training Command Commanders Trophy, Distinguished Graduate Award, Flying Training Award)

1st Lt. Paul T. Kamp

2nd Lt. Jonathan P. Mascagni

2nd Lt. Mallory M. Mifflin

2nd Lt. Austion K. Nale

2nd Lt. Daniel A. Nesburg

2nd Lt. Oyetunji O. Oyewole (Academic Excellence)

1st Lt. Maxwell N. Patterson

2nd Lt. Mariano N. Pierotti Puga (International Training Award)

1st. Lt. Agustin D. Sullivan

2nd Lt. Christopher P. Sylvester

1st Lt. Anthony J. Tolbert

2nd Lt. Daniel S. Wilson