Instructor Pilot Citations

C-17A Instructor Pilot

Lieutenant Colonel Larry W. Gabe distinguished himself by outstanding achievement as Operations Officer and C-17A Instructor Pilot, 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, 385th Air Expeditionary Group, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. During this period, Lieutenant Colonel Gabe's guidance and steadfast leadership proved vital to the success of the Air Force's only forward deployed C-17A unit in support of Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM'S SENTINEL. Under his leadership 251 personnel operated 9 aircraft from two geographically separated units to execute over 4,000 flight hours across 1,735 combat missions delivering sixty-three million pounds of cargo and over 15,500 passengers. During this time Lieutenant Colonel Gabe's efforts directly contributed to the first C-17A combat operations into an austere dirt landing zone in over a decade, enabling 60 sorties and over three and a half million pounds of munitions and cargo to be delivered directly to combat operations deep within Da'esh held territory. He deftly handled a 300% manning turnover while integrating elements of twenty different squadrons into a cohesive combat unit, developing just in time training and certification to reduce crew composition requirements into high risk locations by 33%. Lieutenant Colonel Gabe tirelessly guided the squadron through combat and combat support missions to 42 airfields in 17 countries throughout the Middle Ease and Africa, ensuring the Moose legacy of relentless combat airlift. The distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant Colonel Gabe reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

LC-130H Instructor Pilot

Major David L. Zielinski distinguished himself in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as an Instructor Pilot while assigned to the 139th Airlift Squadron, Stratton Air National Guard Base, Schenectady, New York, from 28 March 2006 to 30 September 2019. During this period, Major Zielinski accrued over 3,100 hours as an Instructor Pilot in the New York Air National Guard's sole ski-equipped LC-130H. As a Ski Aircraft Commander, he supported 11 Operation DEEP FREEZE deployments and 13 Greenland rotations in support of the National Science Foundation. His precision as a pilot ensured the safety of the crew during an emergency open snow landing in an unexpected white-out condition at Williams Field, Antarctica. In addition, he was chosen to fly the Secretary of the Air Force, Director of the Air National Guard, and 18th Air Force Commander to South Pole Station. In the arctic theater, Major Zielinski completed Boxtop missions resupplying Canadian Forces Station Alert, the northern most permanently habited place in the world. Additionally, he deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and accomplished 57 combat sorties including International Security Assistance Force missions, airdrop, medical evacuation and airlift of the Allied Forces Commander. In garrison, his dedication to the unit is evident through completion of advanced schools to include Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, Advanced Instrument School and Pilot Instructor School. The distinctive accomplishments of Major Zielinski reflect credit upon himself, the 139th Airlift Squadron and the United States Air Force.

KC-10 Formal Training Unit Instructor Pilot

Lieutenant Colonel Robert D McAllister distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Chief of Safety and KC-10 Formal Training Unit Instructor Pilot, 305th Air Mobility Wing, 32d Air Refueling Squadron, 305th Operations Group, 305th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, from 16 April 2015 to 3 August 2018. During this period the outstanding professional skill, leadership, and ceaseless efforts of Lieutenant Colonel McAllister directly contributed to the safe and successful accomplishment of the wing's mission to provide rapid global mobility excellence. As Operations Officer, he deftly directed the generation of 2,130 missions that off-loaded over 20 million pounds of fuel and deployed 86 crews worldwide supporting five combatant commanders. In 2016, he skillfully led the mission planning cell for the largest North Atlantic Treaty Organized exercise in ten years which included the consummate airdrop of over 500 paratroopers. As the deployed KC-10 commander for the 2016 Operational Readiness Exercise, he masterfully led 52 total force crewmembers who completed 26 mission. Additionally, under his direction, four squadron crews launched short-notice to enable Global Strike missions through clandestine air refueling of two B-2 bombers that destroyed two Libyan terrorist camps, neutralizing eighty enemy combatants. Furthermore, as Chief of Safety, Lieutenant Colonel McAllister spearheaded the development of a base-wide deer control plan that required synchronized coordination across the Joint Base command structure, the United States Department of Agriculture and state agencies. These actions led to the efficient reduction of the deer population and directly improved the safety of both the base and airfield operations. Finally, his superior leadership of the tri-service joint base flight safety office empowered 42,000 total force personnel to have zero Class A mishaps in the 2017 Fiscal Year and resulted in his team being recognized as the Air Mobility Command Safety Office of the Year. The distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant Colonel McAllister reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

KC-135R/T Instructor Pilot

Lieutenant Colonel Michael R Seiler distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as KC-135R/T Instructor Pilot, 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 376th Expeditionary Operations Group, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Transit Center at Manas International Airport, Kyrgyz Republic. During this period, Colonel Seiler transited the twenty-first century version of the "Hump" by navigating over the mountains of the Tien Shen Range in the western Himalayas as he commanded 20 combat air refueling missions in direct support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On one sortie, he refueled a B-1B providing armed overwatch for friendly forces and a friendly dismounted patrol. When friendly forces reported enemy small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenade fire, the bomber released several precision-guided munitions eliminating enemy forces. During another sortie, Colonel Seiler departed his assigned orbit to rescue two F-15Es that over-extended their fuel supply as a result of a troops in contact situation. After these aircraft received their fuel, he elected to remain with the fighter aircraft, ensuring no gap in coverage for the troops in contact below. Colonel Seiler provided so much fuel he was forced to depart Afghanistan with barely enough fuel to recover safely at Manas. His efforts ensured rapid, flexible aerial support for troops engaged in combat with the Taliban and Al Qaeda throughout Afghanistan. The distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant Colonel Seiler reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

KC-10 Instructor Pilot

Captain Devin P. White distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Chief of Training and KC-10 Instructor Pilot, 32d Air Refueling Squadron, 305th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. During this period, Captain White flew more than 350 sorties, amassing over 2,500 flying hours. As chief of Training, he developed and launched a new virtual training solution during the COVID-19 pandemic that provided 15 hours of aircrew development and training per week for 270 members, earning him the Group Innovator of the Quarter Award. Furthermore, as the assistant operations flight commander, Captain White supervised a 28-member flight that supported 137 aircrew members and their 24-hour scheduling requirements, including 360 higher headquarters directed missions. Additionally, Captain White was the wing subject matter expert for a KC-10 modification, where he wrote and edited 58 Technical Order changes which aligned the Air Force guidance with Federal Aviation Administration requirements. Lastly, as an executive officer, Captain White crushed the squadron administration process, which garnered the unit a 40% increase in awards won over prior years. The distinctive accomplishments of Captain White reflect credit upon himself, the 305th Air Mobility Wing, and the United States Air Force.