Instructor Pilot Citations
INSTRUCTOR PILOT
FOR OUTSTANDING MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS RESERVE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND INSTRUCTOR PILOT AT TRAINING AIR WING TWO FROM JUNE 2023 TO MARCH 2026. COMMANDER O'BRIEN EXPERTLY MANAGED AND LED A RESERVE TEAM OF ONE YEOMAN AND FOUR RESERVE DEPARTMENT HEADS DURING A CHALLENGING TIME OF INSTRUCTOR AND AIRCRAFT SHORTAGES. WHILE FLYING OVER 375 HOURS AS AN INSTRUCTOR, COMMANDER O'BRIEN EXPERTLY MANAGED A 6.2 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET INVOLVING DRILLS AND ORDERS FOR OVER 50 RESERVE INSTRUCTORS. DURING HIS TENURE, HIS EFFORTS RESULTED IN THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF OVER 13,000 DRILL PERIODS AND 4,800 ACTIVE DUTY DAYS OF RESERVE SUPPORT, LEADING TO THE SAFE EXECUTION OF OVER 16,000 FLIGHT HOURS, 14,700 SORTIES, AND 7,400 STUDENT PRODUCTION SORTIES, ACCOUNTING FOR 21 PERCENT OF THE TRAINING WING'S TOTAL PRODUCTION. ADDITIONALLY, THE RESERVE COMPONENT ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN 11 STRIKE, 12 CARRIER QUALIFICATION, AND FOUR BASIC FIGHTER MANEUVERS DETACHMENTS. THIS VALUABLE RESERVE CONTRIBUTION DIRECTLY LED TO TRAINING WING TWO PRODUCING 352 STRIKE FIGHTER AND COMMAND AND CONTROL NAVAL AVIATORS. IN ADDITION, HIS UNRELENTING EFFORTS AND SUPERB LEADERSHIP OF HIS STAFF RESULTED IN THE A GRADE OF "OUTSTANDING" FOR ALL RESERVE COMPONENTS IN THE 2024 CNATRA RESERVE INSPECTION WHICH INCLUDED MULTIPLE "BEST PRACTICES" BEING SHARED WITH OTHER TRAINING WINGS. COMMANDER O'BRIEN'S PROFESSIONALISM, PERSEVERANCE, AND LOYAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT ON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
T-6B INSTRUCTOR PILOT
FOR PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES AS A T-6B INSTRUCTOR PILOT AT TRAINING SQUADRON SIX, NAVAL AIR STATION WHITING FIELD FROM SEPTEMBER 2023 TO MAY 2025. DURING THIS PERIOD, LIEUTENANT RODRIGUEZ LOGGED OVER 260 MISHAP-FREE FLIGHT HOURS AND PROVIDED MORE THAN 180 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS, DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE SUCCESSFUL TRAINING OF FUTURE NAVAL AVIATORS. AS THE SENIOR COAST GUARD INSTRUCTOR, HE MENTORED FIVE STUDENT AVIATORS THROUGH THEIR FIRST SOLO FLIGHTS, ENSURING THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS, AND PROVIDED WEEKLY AND MONTHLY PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE TO OVER FORTY-FIVE STUDENTS, FOSTERING GROWTH AND READINESS. ADDITIONALLY, HE SERVED AS THE SQUADRON HURRICANCE EVACUATION OFFICER, EXECUTING A MID-WEEK EVACUATION PLAN FOR HURRICANE HELENE TO PROTECT PERSONNEL AND ASSETS. AS THE ASSISTANT COMMAND FITNESS LEADER, HE ENSURED STUDENTS MET REQUIRED FITNESS STANDARDS. LIEUTENANT RODRIGUEZ'S PROFESSIONALISM, INITIATIVE, AND DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, TRAINING SQUADRON SIX, THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
INITIAL OPERATING EXPERIENCE INSTRUCTOR PILOT
MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS OPERATIONS OFFICER, C-40A TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT COMMANDER, INITIAL OPERATING EXPERIENCE INSTRUCTOR PILOT, FLEET LOGISTICS SUPPORT SQUADRON FIVE EIGHT FROM APRIL 2017 THROUGH JULY 2023. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER O'LAUGHLIN DEMONSTRATED SUPERB OPERATIONAL EXPERTISE WHILE LEADING 13 C-40A DETACHMENTS TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF MISSION PROFICIENCY IN THE EXECUTION OF 1,015 MISHAP FREE FLIGHT HOURS TO THE MOST DYNAMIC FLYING ENVIRONMENTS IN THE WORLD DURING DETACHMENTS IN SUPPORT OF FOURTH, FIFTH, SIXTH AND SEVENTH FLEET AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY. WHILE SERVING AS OPERATIONS OFFICER, HE PLANNED 18 DETACHMENTS, MOVING 1.2 MILLION POUNDS OF CARGO AND MORE THAN 20,000 PASSENGERS, PROVIDING CRITICAL LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO MULTI-NATIONAL TASK FORCE COMMANDERS. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER O'LAUGHLIN'S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, UNRELENTING PERSEVERANCE, AND DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT ON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
INSTRUCTOR PILOT, HELICOPTER SEA COMBAT SQUADRON
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND ASSISTANT TRAINING OFFICER AT HELICOPTER SEA COMBAT SQUADRON THREE FROM DECEMBER 2018 TO OCTOBER 2021. LIEUTENANT KIMBROUGH INSTRUCTED 271 FLEET REPLACEMENT PILOT SYLLABUS EVENTS AND 35 INSTRUCTOR UNDER-TRAINING FLIGHTS TOTALLING 773.2 FLIGHT HOURS. IN ADDITION, HE FLEW 11 HOURS IN SUPPORT OF FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS ABOARD USS BONHOMME RICHARD(LHD-6) AND CONDUCTED A LIFE SAVING RESCUE OF A U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL AGENT IN DISTRESS ALONG THE SOUTHERN BORDER. LIEUTENANT KIMBROUGH WAS CONTINUALLY SELECTED BY HIS STUDENTS AS ONE OF THE SQUADRON'S MOST INFLUENTIAL INSTUCTORS AND WAS NOMINATED BY HIS PEERS AND SELECTED AS THE 2020 FLEET REPLACEMENT SQUADRON INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR. AS ASSISTANT TRAINING OFFICER, LIEUTENANT KIMBROUGH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCTION ANALYSIS AND THE COMPLETION OF 123 FLEET REPLACEMENT PILOTS. LIEUTENANT KIMBROUGH'S DISTINCTIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UNRELENTING PERSEVERANCE, AND STEADFAST DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
INSTRUCTOR PILOT & GROUND SAFETY OFFICER
MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS INSTRUCTOR PILOT, GROUND SAFETY OFFICER, ASSISTANT STUDENT CONTROL OFFICER, ASSISTANT NATOPS OFFICER, AND SCHEDULES OFFICER AT TRAINING SQUADRON TWO ONE FROM MAY 2018 TO APRIL 2021. AS ASSISTANT STUDENT CONTROL OFFICER, LIEUTENANT PHELPS SPEARHEADED PREPARATION FOR THE NAVAL AIR TRAINING COMMAND TRAINING STANDARDIZATION EVALUATION, RESULTING IN HIS DEPARTMENT RECEIVING A GRADE OF OUTSTANDING WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. ADDITIONALLY, AS GROUND SAFETY OFFICER, HE LED THREE GROUND SAFETY INVESTIGATIONS AND DEVELOPED A TRAINING PROGRAM REDUCING TRAINING TIME BY SEVENTY PERCENT. FURTHER, HE AMASSED 862 FLIGHT HOURS AND 734 SORTIES THAT RESULTED IN THE WINGING OF 137 NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AVIATORS AND WAS THE REDHAWKS' INSTRUCTOR OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST 2020. LIEUTENANT PHELPS'S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, UNRELENTING PERSEVERANCE, AND DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT ON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND RESERVE COMPONENT DEPARTMENT HEAD
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND RESERVE COMPONENT DEPARTMENT HEAD, TRAINING SQUADRON TWO-TWO, FROM JUNE 2014 TO MAY 2017. DURING THIS PERIOD, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER KILMER PERFORMED HIS DEMANDING DUTIES IN AN EXEMPLARY AND HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. SERVING AS THE RESERVE COMPONENT DEPARTMENT HEAD DURING A TIME OF HIGH OPERATIONAL DEMAND, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER KILMER AMASSED OVER 750 FLIGHT HOURS. THIS TOUR CULMINATES 20 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE NATION, DURING WHICH HIS MYRIAD SACRIFICES ENSURED THE PRESERVATION OF TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND FREEDOM. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER KILMER'S DISTINCTIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UNRELENTING PERSEVERANCE, AND STEADFAST DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
INSTRUCTOR PILOT
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT, TRAINING SQUADRON TWENTY-TWO, KINGSVILLE, TEXAS, FROM 1 OCTOBER 2008 THROUGH 31 DECEMBER 2008 AND FOR HIS SELECTION AS THE TRAINING AIR WING TWO INSTRUCTOR OF THE QUARTER, 4TH QUARTER CY-08. DEMONSTRATING EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND INSTRUCTIONAL ABILITIES, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER BASSEL'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO VT-21 WILL HAVE A POSITIVE AND LASTING IMPACT ON THE SQUADRON AND THE NAVY. ONE OF VT-21'S MOST VALUED INSTRUCTORS, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER BASSEL ROUTINELY WORKED WITH STRUGGLING STUDENTS, SPENDING EXTRA TIME IN THE CLASSROOM AND WORKING WITH THE SQUADRON OPERATIONS TO SET STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS. AS A TESTAMENT TO HIS EFFORTS, HE IS CONSISTENTLY MENTIONED IN STUDENT CRITIQUES FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, MENTORING AND INSTRUCTIONAL ABILITIES. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER BASSEL'S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY, REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR PILOT
FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS GROUND TRAINING OFFICER, HURREVAC OFFICER, SCHEDULES OFFICER, ASSISTANT OPERATIONS OFFICER, AND PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR PILOT FOR TRAINING SQUADRON TWENTY-SEVEN FROM 01 MARCH 2014 TO 01 FEBRUARY 2017. AS ASSISTANT OPERATIONS OFFICER, LIEUTENANT HARVEY'S LEADERSHIP LED TO IMPROVED FLIGHT SCHEDULING PROCEDURES OF MISSION CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS WHICH RESULTED IN GREATER SQUADRON EFFICIENCY. HE FLEW OVER 950 FLIGHT HOURS, OVER 550 SORTIES, MENTORED 18 STUDENTS TO THEIR FIRST SOLO FLIGHT AND EARNED ADVANCED T-6B INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS. BY HIS BOLD LEADERSHIP, WISE JUDGMENT, AND COMPLETE DEDICATION TO DUTY, LIEUTENANT HARVEY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.