CAFB UPT Class 25-04 Graduation Published Jan. 22, 2025 By Airman Hayley Brown 14 Flying Training Wing COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- 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