Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. -- Seventeen Undergraduate Pilot Training student pilots of Class 25-01, graduated on November 1, 2024, 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.
Colonel (Ret) Stan D. Lawrie finished his 26-year career in the Air Force as the Deputy J3, United States Forces Korea. In this role, he was Operations Director in the J3’s absence and supervised 12, O-6 led Joint warfighting staff divisions comprising 300+ personnel. As the primary airpower advisor to the CDR/USFK, he directed war fighting programs impacting training and readiness of over 650K US and ROK warfighters. Lawrie was commissioned through the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado in 1994. After completing his initial Intelligence Officer assignment, he was selected to attend Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma and was selected to fly the KC-135 Stratotanker.
Lawrie has commanded twice at the squadron level and twice at the group level. Additionally, he had an exchange assignment with the Royal Air Force, in the Joint Force Air Component Command Headquarters. Prior to his final assignment, Colonel Lawrie served as Commander, 14th Operations Group, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. Colonel Lawrie (Ret), now is a Boeing 777 First Officer for Fedex Express. He lives in Monument, Colorado with wife and best friend, Karen Lawrie.
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.
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 25-01 Graduates
1st LT Andrew P. Benson
1st LT Kevin A. Brisker (Flying Training Award)
2nd LT Ian L. Bunker
1st LT Brayden A. Dragoo
2nd LT Tristan S. Halloran (Air Education and Training Command commander’s trophy, Distinguished Graduate Award, Academic Excellence Award)
1st LT Haley E. Hartley
1st LT Joseph A. Stout
1st LT Kylie M. Wilkinson
1st LT Morgan M. Heeren
1st LT James M. Herold
Capt. Ignacio A. Lara
1st LT Wade A. Lawrie
2nd LT Michael J. Mangus
1st LT Kathleen E. Medill
1st LT Andrew J. Puseman
2nd LT William B. Scholl
Capt. Matthew T. Seibert (Military Training Award)