New aviators receive wings during Class 26-06 graduation Published March 2, 2026 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