U.S. Air Force Weapons School graduates 87 officers Published Dec. 6, 2010 Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The U.S. Air Force Weapons School will graduate 87 officers during ceremonies at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Dec. 11. The Weapons School provides the world's most advanced training in weapons and tactics employment, and every six months, produces a new class of graduates who are expert instructors on weapons, weapons systems and air and space integration. Upon completing the course, graduates return to their home stations, taking the latest tactics, techniques and procedures for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat to their respective units. The Weapons School traces its roots to the Aircraft Gunnery School established in 1949 at Las Vegas Air Force Base, which became Nellis Air Force Base in 1950. This organization brought together a cadre of World War II combat veterans dedicated to teaching the next generation of pilots. The Gunnery School converted to combat crew training to meet the needs of the Korean War. Today's Weapons School encompasses 17 squadrons, teaching 22 combat specialties at eight locations. Only 30 percent of today's students come from the classic fighter specialties which built the initial reputation of the "patch." The 60-year tradition of excellence associated with the Weapons School continues as today's graduates go to units worldwide to focus on the integration challenges of tomorrow. Class 10-B graduates include: 8 WPS Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Air Battle Managers Capt. Dameion D. Briggs Capt. George A. Christoph Capt. Herman Norwood, Jr. Capt. John R. Ohlund Capt. Justin M. Podnar EC-130 Capt. Matthew J. Florenzen RC-135 Capt. Jonathan M. Beha Capt. Christopher Coville Capt. Daniel R. Thomas 14 WPS Hurlburt Field, Fla. AC-130 Maj. Jon W. Porath Capt. Robert P. Buzzell Capt. Jonas W. Freel Capt. Sean M. Williams MC-130 Maj. Joshua W. Petry Capt. Philip A. Laughlin 16 WPS (F-16) Nellis AFB, Nev. Maj. Christopher W. Melka (ANG) Maj. Mark D. Van Brunt (AFRC) Capt. Eric D. Boyes Capt. Dustin W. Brown Capt. Beau E. Diers Capt. Ryan M. Gaffaney Capt. Aleksas R. Juskys Capt. William D. Lutmer Capt. Richard C. Orzechowski Capt. James D. Smith 17 WPS (F-15E) Nellis AFB, Nev. Capt. Joshua P. Blakeman Capt. Benjamin A. Donberg Capt. Mark D. Nyberg Capt. Robert B. Olvis 19 WPS (Intelligence) Nellis AFB, Nev. Intelligence Sensor Capt. Elizabeth C. Caskey Capt. James R. Rabon Intelligence Capt. Jacqueline A. Ament Capt. Karen M. Barth (AFRC) Capt. Kyle B. Bressette Capt. Sarah E. Gee Capt. Patrick W. McMorrow 26 WPS (MQ-1/MQ-9) Nellis AFB, Nev. Maj. Albert F. Scaperotto, Jr. Capt. Michael J. McDermott Capt. Robert A. Moors Capt. Louis S. Pine 29 WPS (C-130) Little Rock, AZ Maj. Patrick Linson (ANG) Capt. Jeffery A. Blankenship Capt. Jason R. Childs Capt. Ryan E. Donohoe Capt. John C. Fuccillo Capt. Michael K. McKinney Capt. Nathan J. Powell 34 WPS (HH-60) Nellis AFB, Nev. Capt. Charles W. Redmond 57 WPS (C-17) McGuire AFB, NJ Capt. Isaac E. Adams Capt. Jeremy M. Brockman Capt. Curt A. Haase Capt. David J. Morales Capt. Brian D. Muto Capt. Joshua C. Watkins 66 WPS (A-10) Nellis AFB, Nev. Capt. Joseph D. Beal Capt. Travis T. Elliott Capt. Grady L. Green (ANG) Capt. Josh L. Long Capt. Barry V. McKeown Capt. Thomas E. Parker 66 WPS (A-10) Nellis AFB, Nev. Capt. Ruston C. Traynham 77 WPS (B-1) Dyess AFB, TX Capt. Philip Z. Atkinson Capt. Brian J. Baker Capt. Chad M. Hillen Capt. Mark E. Kimball 325 WPS (B-2) Whiteman AFB, MO Capt. Richard F. Ganske Capt. Luke D. Jayne 328 WPS Nellis AFB, Nev. SPACE Capt. William F. Conway Jr. Capt. Aaron M. Fischbach Capt. Tracy L. Lloyd 1st. Lt. Michael C. Mariner ICBM Validation WIC Capt. Joshua J. Henderson Capt. Benji L. Johnson Capt. Katherine C. Mack Capt. Jeffrey S. Regan 340 WPS (B-52) Barksdale AFB, LA Capt. Patrick R. Applegate Capt. John M. Baker Capt. Patrick J. Godinez Capt. Paul A. Goossen Capt. Brandon R. Knutz Capt. David M. Page Capt. Steven M. Schaar 433 WPS Nellis AFB, Nev. F-15C Maj. Jared A. Conaboy (ANG) Capt. Jarrod A. Aranda F-22 Capt. Randy St. Jean Capt. Charles E. Schuck 509 WPS (KC-135) Fairchild AFB, Wash. Maj. Stacy G. Moore (ANG) Maj. Joshua T. Frakes Maj. Bryan R. Scholtes (ANG) Maj. Zachary O. Thompson Capt. Joshua C. Chambers Capt. Jeremy L. Gould Capt. Joseph T. Schwab