Nellis Air Force Base

Hometown Hero 2025

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Taylor Wight, left, an operations officer assigned to the Thunderbirds, and Michael Patterson, a Hometown Hero participant, taxi on the runway on April 4, 2025, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The Hometown Hero program recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to their communities.

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Hometown Hero 2025

From left to right, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Chase Messner, #8 assistant dedicated crew chief assigned to the Thunderbirds, finalizes a preflight check for the Hometown Hero flight with Lt. Col. Taylor Wight, an operations officer and pilot assigned to the Thunderbirds, and Michael Patterson, a Hometown Hero candidate, on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Hometown Hero is a program founded by the Thunderbirds to give back to the notable individuals within the local community and give selected candidates a special opportunity to fly with them in the backseat of one of their F-16s.

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Hometown Hero 2025

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Taylor Wight, right, an operations officer assigned to the Thunderbirds, presents Hometown Hero participant, Michael Patterson, with a memorabilia on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Patterson has dedicated over three decades to educating youth and making a profound impact on their lives. One of his significant contributions to the educational community included creating a board game club, which not only provided students with fun and enriching extracurricular activities, but also generated and awarded over $10,000 in grants to support innovative teaching initiatives in schools across the district.

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Hometown Hero 2025

U.S. Air Force dedicated crew chiefs assigned to the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds, hold jet step ladders while waiting for an F-16 returning back from a Hometown Hero flight to come to a complete stop on April 4, 2025, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Hometown Hero is a program founded by the Thunderbirds to give back to the notable individuals within the local community and give selected candidates a special opportunity to fly with them in the backseat of one of their F-16s.

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Hometown Hero 2025

U.S. Air Force dedicated crew chiefs assigned to the Thunderbirds, marshal an F-16 returning back from a Hometown Hero flight on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Hometown Hero is a program founded by the Thunderbirds to give back to the notable individuals within the local community and give selected candidates a special opportunity to fly with them in the backseat of one of their F-16s.

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Hometown Hero 2025

Three F-16 Thunderbirds prepare for take-off following the Hometown Hero flight on April 4, 2025, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Hometown Hero is a program founded by the Thunderbirds to give back to the notable individuals within the local community and give selected candidates a special opportunity to fly with them in the backseat of one of their F-16s.

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Hometown Hero 2025

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Taylor Wight, an operations officer assigned to the Thunderbirds, and Michael Patterson, a Hometown Hero participant, prepare for take-off on April 4, 2025, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Dedicating approximately thirty years to educating the youth, Patterson has been recognized for numerous achievements and won several awards, such as the Milken Educator of the Year and the Heart of Education award.

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Hometown Hero 2025

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Taylor Wight, left, an operations officer assigned to the Thunderbirds, and Michael Patterson, a Hometown Hero participant, prepare for take-off on April 4, 2025, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Patterson was selected to fly with the Thunderbirds in the backseat of one of their F-16s through a program dedicated to giving back to hometown hero candidates.

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Hometown Hero 2025

From Left to right, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Taylor Wight, an operations officer and pilot assigned to the Thunderbirds, and Michael Patterson, a Hometown Hero participant and passenger, settle into their seats while Staff Sgt. William Solomon, #8 assistant dedicated crew chief assigned to the Thunderbirds, is waits to perform a preflight check on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Patterson has dedicated over three decades to educating youth and making a profound impact on their lives. One of his significant contributions to the educational community included creating a board game club, which not only provided students with fun and enriching extracurricular activities, but also generated and awarded over $10,000 in grants to support innovative teaching initiatives in schools across the district.

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Hometown Hero 2025

Michael Patterson, a Hometown Hero participant, prepares for flight with the Thunderbirds on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Dedicating approximately thirty years to educating the youth, Patterson has been recognized for numerous achievements and won several awards, such as the Milken Educator of the Year and the Heart of Education award.

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Hometown Hero 2025

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Taylor Wight, left, an operations officer assigned to the Thunderbirds, and Michael Patterson, a Hometown Hero participant, prepare to taxi for flight, on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The Hometown Hero program recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to their communities.

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Hometown Hero 2025

Michael Patterson, Hometown Hero participant, poses for a picture before his flight with the Thunderbirds on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Dedicating approximately thirty years to educating the youth, Patterson has been recognized for numerous achievements and won several awards, such as the Milken Educator of the Year and the Heart of Education award.

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Hometown Hero 2025

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Taylor Wight, right, an operations officer assigned to the Thunderbirds, takes a picture with Hometown Hero participant, Michael Patterson, on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Patterson was selected to fly with the Thunderbirds in the backseat of one of their F-16s through a program dedicated to giving back to hometown hero candidates.

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Hometown Hero 2025

From left to right, Michael Patterson, Hometown Hero candidate, gears up before his flight with assistance from U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. William Solomon, #8 assistant dedicated crew chief and Ssgt Jacob Jeschke, #8 dedicated crew chief, both assigned to the Thunderbirds, on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Hometown Hero is a program founded by the Thunderbirds to give back to the notable individuals within the local community and give selected candidates a special opportunity to fly with them in the backseat of one of their F-16s.

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Hometown Hero 2025

From left to right, Michael Patterson, Hometown Hero participant, U.S. Air Force Maj. Brandon Maxson, advance pilot and narrator assigned to the Thunderbirds and Lt. Col. Taylor Wight, an operations officer assigned to the Thunderbirds, discuss all maneuvers that will occur during the Hometown Hero flight, on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Patterson was selected to fly with the Thunderbirds in the backseat of one of their F-16s through a program dedicated to giving back to hometown hero candidates.

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Hometown Hero 2025

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Logan Pawson, left, shift lead and aircrew flight equipment specialist assigned to the Thunderbirds, secures a helmet on Michael Patterson, a participant of Hometown Hero, on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Hometown Hero is a program founded by the Thunderbirds to give back to the notable individuals within the local community and give selected candidates a special opportunity to fly with them in the backseat of one of their F-16s.

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Hometown Hero 2025

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Corey Harrison, flight chief and aircrew flight equipment specialist assigned to the Thunderbirds, secures gear on Michael Patterson, a participant of Hometown Hero, on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Hometown Hero is a program founded by the Thunderbirds to give back to the notable individuals within the local community and give selected candidates a special opportunity to fly with them in the backseat of one of their F-16s.

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Hometown Hero 2025

Michael Patterson, left, Hometown Hero participant, receives a briefing from U.S. Air Force Maj. Jacob Hall, a flight surgeon assigned to the Thunderbirds, on breathing techniques and the effects of G-forces on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Patterson was selected to fly with the Thunderbirds in the backseat of one of their F-16s through a program dedicated to giving back to hometown hero candidates.

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Hometown Hero 2025

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Lauren Clevenger, left, a public affairs specialist assigned to the Thunderbirds, briefs Hometown Hero participant, Michael Patterson, on the itinerary for the day on April 4, 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The Hometown Hero program recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to their communities.

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Hometown Hero 2025

Published April 17, 2025
By Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Tan
57 Wing Public Affairs

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --

Hometown Hero is a program founded by the Thunderbirds to give back to the notable individuals within the local community and give selected candidates a special opportunity to fly with them in the backseat of one of their F-16s. The Hometown Hero program recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to their communities. Dedicating approximately thirty years to educating the youth, Michael Patterson was recognized for numerous achievements and won several awards, such as the Milken Educator of the Year and the Heart of Education award.