edwards air force base zcommander david smith

Edwards air force base zcommander david smith driver#

Piffarerio was a part of the initial cadre who stood up the 477th FG in 2007, of which the 302nd FS falls under. Dirk Smith, who received a check ride from Piffarerio during the milestone flight. Upon landing Piffarerio was met by his wife Jennifer along with active duty and Reserve pilots and maintainers to include the 3rd Wing commander, Col.

'Whether it is a 1,000 hour flight or a routine sortie I am focused on the job I have to do.' 'It is neat to know that I was a part of launching a 1,000 hour flight,' Robinson said.

Hank Robinson, 525th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, launched Piffarerio on his sortie today, but was focused on ensuring it was a safe flight. 'The aircraft is maturing and getting better the more we fly and perform maintenance on it.' 'This is a great milestone for the pilots, maintainers and contractors working on the jet and the F-22 program as a whole,' said Piffarerio. 4, making him the first Air Force pilot to do so. David Piffarerio, 302nd Fighter Squadron commander, flew his 1,000 flight hour in the F-22 Raptor here Nov. “I think there’s going to some people on this base who are going to be like, ‘Isn’t he the same guy that was our commander?’” jokes Smith has he looks towards the upcoming change of command ceremony.JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – He has been selected to assume command of the 173rd Fighter Wing as Smith relinquishes the position. Today, as Smith prepares to retire from the service, it’s in keeping with the theme that Edwards will step in behind him. The two now work more closely than ever after Smith took the reins of the 173rd Fighter Wing in 2016 and Edwards joined him as the vice commander about six months later. They share a car insurance agent who has repeatedly mixed them up and even put Smith’s records in Edwards file.

“I have been called Thug a million times, he’s been called Sled a million times we jokingly call each other Slug.” “We have been confused our entire lives…at least since we’ve gotten to Kingsley,” Smith laughs. In fact, many people thought they were the same person. They would work together as F-15 instructor pilots and then as commanders, Smith preceding Edwards as the maintenance squadron commander.

Edwards air force base zcommander david smith driver#

After earning their Eagle Driver patches, their paths diverged with Edwards heading to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska and Smith to Kadena Air Base, Japan. “We just high fived…I was just finishing up in ’97 out of the First Fighter Squadron when he rolled in,” said Edwards. That happened when both earned coveted flying billets in the F-15 Eagle at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Although, with two different degree paths, Edwards pursuing studies in Aeronautical Engineering and Smith in Operations Research, several years intervened before their next meeting. “June 27, 1991…you kind of remember that date,” says Smith with a smile on his face.Īn electrical engineering class sat them side-by-side where they grew more familiar. It marks the final chapter in their careers which began when they stepped off the same bus at the U.S. Jeff “Thug” Edwards will take command of the wing.

Jeff “Sled” Smith will step down as the Commander of the 173rd Fighter Wing, and Col.