Patches lead from front: Weapons system experts graduate from USAFWS Published Dec. 18, 2014 By Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs LAS VEGAS -- The Air Force gained 112 new weapons officers when students of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School class 14B celebrated their graduation from their Weapons Instructor Courses, or WICs, during a ceremony here Dec 13. Weapons School graduates are considered experts in their fields, tasked with training and instructing coworkers at their home units with knowledge they gained during the five-month course. "Today, I see 112 new warfighters who will assume this awesome burden of being a weapons officer, 112 new reasons why we will always find a way to win our nation's wars," said Col. Adrian Spain, USAFWS commandant. Weapons school graduates wear a distinct patch on their uniforms to signify they have successfully completed the course and are technical experts on their weapons systems. "This is a great event to recognize the greatest our Air Force has to offer," said Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, who attended the graduation as the guest speaker. "You are incredibly important to our Air Force both now and in the future. You are the Weapons School Ph.D.s ... and you're educating the next generation of Ph.Ds." Along with their intensive knowledge, weapons school graduates also carry with them a rich heritage. The weapons school traces its roots to the Aircraft Gunnery School established in 1949 at Las Vegas Air Force Base, which became Nellis AFB 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. "Past and present WIC grads have led our Air Force to accomplish the absolute impossible, performing incredible acts of heroism, and leading the United States to victory in everything we do," the general went on to say. In addition to the historical significance of the school, Carlisle also mentioned how the lessons taught there have translated to success in current conflicts. "The value of the patch to the warfighter cannot be overstated," Carlisle said. "It is because of WIC graduates that the U.S. Air Force is able to accomplish so much and obtain the unobtainable." Today, the Weapons School encompasses 18 squadrons, teaching 24 combat specialties at eight locations. The 65-year tradition of excellence associated with the Air Force Weapons School continues as today's graduates go to units worldwide to focus on the integration challenges of tomorrow. "I know we're in the midst of incredibly difficult times," he continued. "You see it every single day. We are more engaged than we have ever been in the past. Airpower is what drives every [combatant command] and provides them the opportunity to be successful. We need the talent, the dedication, the discipline and the urge of our weapons officers today. Very simply put, WIC graduates, you are the future of our Air Force." 8th Weapons Squadron, Air Battle Manager, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada Capt. Daniel W. Aspelund Capt. Jonathan R. Blenkush Capt. Jared M. Lemmons Capt. William B. Short Capt. David A. Trone EC-130 Capt. Timothy W. West RC-135 Capt. Taylor D. Eavenson Capt. Hsiao Wei Lu 14th WPS, AC-130, Hurlburt Field, Florida Maj. Sean J. Hansen Capt. Marko L. Biondich Capt. Aaron C. Hall Capt. Brian M. Schmidt Capt. Dustin L. Tharrett Capt. Douglas A. Ward MC-130 Capt. Garrett R. Bridges Capt. Brett B. Davis Capt. Kyle L. Stover U-28 Capt. James S. Davis, Jr. Capt. Jacob P. Fischer Capt. Richard M. Harr Capt. Tyler W. Martin Capt. Philip A. Yarborough 16th WPS, F-16, Nellis AFB, Nevada Maj. Bryan D. Meek Capt. Michael Cady Capt. Gregory R. Farrell Capt. Brian J. Faughn Capt. Shaun R. Hoeltje Capt. Michael S. Mickus Capt. Joshua C. Moffat Capt. Matthew P. Wilson Capt. Ryan J. Worrell Capt. Jason S. Ulibarri 17th WPS, F-15E, Nellis AFB, Nevada Capt. John A. Anderson Capt. Jacob S. Ashmore Capt. Nathan D. Heguy Capt. Colin S. Hinkley Capt. John D. Rabun 19th WPS, Intelligence Sensor Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nevada Capt. Christopher M. Cardinale Capt. Joshua L. Shaw Capt. Zayn M. Knaub Capt. Levinia S. Tyrrell Intelligence Weapons Instructor Course Capt. John D. Bertieri Capt. Hayley L. Hartstein Capt. Asha Padmanabhan Capt. Elizabeth U. Theiss Capt. Cara V. Treadwell 1st Lt. Tory O. Donato (A 2 Jun) 26th WPS, MQ-1/MQ-9, Nellis AFB, Nevada Capt. Jon Capt. Brandon Capt. Ryan Capt. Herbert 29th WPS, C-130, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas Maj Robert C. Damon Capt. Christopher S. Casler Capt. Alexander D. Johns Capt. Collin A. Lohr Capt. Austin D. Rust Capt. Brandon A. Schrader 34th WPS, HH-60, Nellis AFB, Nevada Capt. Eric L. Schneck 57th WPS, C-17, McGuire AFB, New Jersey Capt. Michael Z. Hershey Capt. Daniel C. Hartung Capt. Richard S. Kerr Capt. Daniel A. Naske Capt. Matthew B. Walton 66th WPS, A-10, Nellis AFB, Nevada Capt. Brian Burgoon Capt. Zachary Hughes Capt. Joshua R. Jones 77th WPS, B-1, Dyess AFB, Texas Capt. Eric W. Bruton Capt. John R. Ethredge Capt. Peter M. Johnson Capt. Ryan M. Stillwell 315th WPS, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, Nellis AFB, Nevada Capt. Ross V. Millard Capt. Lee C. Payne Capt. Alex S. Rich Capt. Sterling D. Williams 325th WPS, B-2, Whiteman, AFB, Missouri Capt. Alexander J. Reich Capt. Andrew Kousgaard 328th WPS, Cyber Warfare, Nellis AFB, Nevada Capt. Megan A. Enns Capt. Robert E. Bireley Jr. Capt. Brian T. Higgins Capt. Daryl Godfrey Capt. Sean A. Williams 1st Lt. Donald Franklin Space Superiority Capt. Benjamin M. Andera Capt. Michael E. May Capt. Joshua M. McCullion Capt. Donald J. Thomas 340th WPS, B-52, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana Capt. Kevin Crawford Capt. Ryan V. Egan Capt. Andrew J. Embry Capt. Jordan L. Filer Capt. Michael S. Hansen Capt. Joshua Hughes Capt. Brendan Kulczycki Capt. Erin K. McCabe Capt. Jared M. Patterson Capt. Matt S. Spinelli 433th WPS, F-15C, Nellis AFB, Nevada Capt. Joshua Hovanas Capt. Matthew J. Young F-22, Nellis AFB, Nevada Capt. David M. Delmage Capt. Ryan W. Shelhorse 509th WPS, KC-135, Fairchild AFB, Washington Capt. Deborah A. Gaddis Capt. Brandon M. Kelly Capt. Jordan R. Kemp Capt. Timothy P. McBride Capt. Dean U. Thibodeau Capt. Graydon R. Vandament Enlisted Courses 66th WPS, joint terminal attack controller, Nellis AFB, Nevada Master Sgt. Damon M. Girton Tech. Sgt. James C. Larsen Staff Sgt. Jarrid Cavanaugh Staff Sgt. Robert Henry Staff Sgt. Derek M. Snyder 8th WPS, Advanced Weapons Director Course, Nellis AFB, Nevada Tech. Sgt. Jonie Escorpiso 8th WPS, Advanced Weapons Director Course, Nellis AFB, Nevada Oct. 14 to Dec. 12 Tech. Sgt. Michael Bernier Tech. Sgt. Angela Brown Tech. Sgt. Andrew Millar Tech. Sgt. Joshua Patten Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Timberman Staff Sgt. Charles Dodd Staff Sgt. Jeremy Pierso (Some names have been removed for security purposes)
