Graduating the Future of Flight: Class 26-14 & 26-12 AU Published July 24, 2026 By Airman 1st Class Darryl Keith 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Thirty U.S. Air Force officers were awarded the coveted silver wings as symbol of their hard work and training during a graduation ceremony held July 23, 2026. Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) is a training program that helps prepare prospective military pilots. Upon completion of the program, graduates earn their silver wings as Air Force aviators. The guest speaker at the Class 26-14 and 26-12 AU graduation ceremony was retired U.S. Air Force Col. Bart Weiss. Weiss is a 1986 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and would attend UPT at Columbus Air Force Base in 1988. During his nearly 30-year career in the Air Force, he led and commanded flying squadrons and multiple operational units worldwide. In addition to these leadership experiences, Weiss served in Washington, D.C. working alongside both military leaders and members of congress. Receiving their pilot wings during the ceremony were: 1st Lt. Mikhail Lachappelle 1st Lt. Thorsen Paglialong 2nd Lt. Max Allen 2nd Lt. Griffin Anderson 2nd Lt. Jake Ballway 2nd Lt. Michael Binder 2nd Lt. Jostan Busque 2nd Lt. Dilan Cinta 2nd Lt. John Crosby 2nd Lt. Mitchell Digby 2nd Lt. Bradley Diller 2nd Lt. Ella Duncan 2nd Lt. Christopher Ehrenberger 2nd Lt. Matteo Finn 2nd Lt. Donovan Fitzpatrick 2nd Lt. Roderick Howe 2nd Lt. Jet Johnson 2nd Lt. Sohan Khanvilkar 2nd Lt. Katherine Kucik 2nd Lt. Grant McIntosh 2nd Lt. Michael Pass 2nd Lt. Jessica Pierce 2nd Lt. Katherine Schlather 2nd Lt. Mayson Slaughter 2nd Lt. Steven Smith 2nd Lt. Colton Stoub 2nd Lt. Seth Swartz 2nd Lt. Oliva Weiss 2nd Lt. Charles Whitcomb 2nd Lt. William Zadrowski In addition to the graduation ceremony, a special emphasis was placed on recognizing the sacrifices and contributions of military spouses. It served as a reminder that while the graduates were the ones receiving their wings, their achievements were also a testament to the love, sacrifice and constant support of their spouses, who serve alongside them in spirit and strength. “Tonight, we not only recognize the accomplishments of our pilots, but we take a moment to celebrate our Air Force spouses.” said Lt. Col. Dane Coppini, 47th Student Squadron commander. “While not in uniform, spouses are the backbone of our Air Force community. We thank you for your love and support. We thank you for celebrating with us when we slip the surely bonds of earth. And we thank you for comforting and encouraging us after a flight does not go as planned. Tonight, you and your spouse have crested one of the hardest climbs in an Air Force career and you did it together. But this was just the start.” In the days leading up to graduation, Laughlin’s aircraft maintainers and student pilots participated in an appreciation ceremony to recognize the partnership between their respective roles. Maintainers presented pilots with the wings they would pin during the graduation event. In return, the student pilots offered their class patch as a token of appreciation. The exchange serves as a reminder that successful flight training is a team effort, supported by the contributions of dedicated personnel across the base. The ceremony proceeded with the breaking of the wings, a tradition symbolizing the start of a new journey for the novice pilots. According to tradition, the first pair of wings a pilot receives should never be worn. Instead, the wings should be broken into two halves to invite good fortune throughout the pilot’s aviation career. One half is kept by the pilot, while the other half is given to a significant person in their life. To preserve that good luck, those two halves are said to only be brought together again in the next life. The event culminated in the pinning of the wings, where friends and family members affixed a pair of silver wings onto the graduates’ uniforms. This gesture signified the official transition of the students into winged aviators, fully prepared to embrace the forthcoming roles within the United States Air Force. Pilot wings are a symbol of hard work, training, and dedication. Aviation wings are issued to pilots who have achieved a certain level of proficiency or training. Additional photos from the event can be found on Flickr.