Instructor of the Week: Lt. Fernandez

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  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

1st Lt. Kevin Fernandez, 89th Flying Training Squadron T-6 instructor pilot and flight scheduler is a native of Huntley, Illinois, and has been in the Air Force for two and a half years. Fernandez was selected as the Instructor of the Week at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, for the week of July 19-25, 2016.

 

Most significant accomplishments:

 

Fernandez was selected as a first assignment instructor pilot from the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program and achieved rated pilot and instructor qualification as a second lieutenant within two years of entering active duty. He was also voted as the top instructor for the instrument and contact flying training phases for class 17-03.

Airman’s story:

 

“I grew up just outside Chicago and my father raised me on aviation,” Fernandez said. “We would go to all the air shows in the area and he would take me up flying in a rental Cessna every chance he could. I went to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL where I studied Meteorology, participated in Air Force ROTC, and spent my summers as a lifeguarding on the beach. I then came to Sheppard for pilot training and was chosen to stay here as an instructor.”

Supervisor comments:

 

“Kevin is my go-to Lieutenant for any issues and the student’s go-to instructor pilot for any type of information or advice,” said Capt. Brent Luddington, 89th FTS flight commander and T-6 instructor pilot. “He is always available to answer questions, teach, and be there if there is a problem. The students trust him so much they have voted him the instructor pilot of the phase for both contact and instrument phases. As my scheduler, he is constantly working to improve the schedule. He has led several scheduling surges for the current class to get them from three days behind to three days ahead of time line.  Kevin is a consummate professional who is always striving to be a better pilot and officer. Any challenges that arise with an ever changing and ever evolving schedule, he tackles head on. He has successfully scheduled two classes with zero syllabus deviations, and has become a student favorite due to his knowledge and caring personality.”