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Instructor of the Week: Capt. McCool

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  • By Staff Reports
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  

Capt. Chris McCool 90th Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot and native of Anderson, Indiana, has been in the Air Force for five years and is the Instructor of the Week at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, for the week of Sept. 6-12, 2016.

 

Most significant accomplishments:

  1. USAF Cadet of the Year, 2010.

  2. Distinguished Graduate U.S. Air Force Academy, 2011.

  3. Harvard Kennedy School Presidential Fellowship, 2011-2013.

  4. Married Monica Sheikholeslami, Sept. 28, 2014.

  5. 90th FTS Company Grade Officer of the 4th Quarter, 2015 and 2nd Quarter 2016.

  6. T38 Observer of the 4th Quarter, 2015.

  7. Distinguished Graduate Squadron Officer School, 2016.

  8. Class 16-07 Most Value Instructor Pilot, Aug. 2016.

Airman’s story:

“I graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2011 and was selected to attend Harvard Kennedy School for a Master’s in Public Policy,” McCool said. “There I wrote my thesis on Agricultural Value Chains in Southern Afghanistan. After completing my Master’s Degree in 2013, I came to ENJJPT (Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program) and eventually earned my pilot wings in September of 2014. I have been an instructor pilot since March of 2015 teaching NATO’s next generation of fighter pilots the basics of aerial flight.”

Supervisor comments:

“As a T-38 Flight commander, Captain McCool supervises the training of 11 future NATO fighter pilots,” said Lt. Col. Jeremy Putman, 90th FTS, director of operations. “The flight is the primary unit used to execute the pilot training mission so the flight commander role is absolutely key to the success of the enterprise. Captain McCool brings energy and an innovative spirit to this vital position. As a result of his leadership, his students demonstrate commendable military bearing and technical knowledge. In addition to leading his flight in an outstanding manner, Captain McCool contributes to the success of the squadron as well. In order to prepare for an upcoming increase in student load, he engineered a centralized scheduling process that maximizes the use of the squadron’s instructor pilot force.”