Maj. Matthew Kuta ’05 (back row, center) is pictured with his fellow pilots.
casualties emergency airlifted to Kandahar Air Base for life saving surgery.” Shortly after the May 2014 mission, Maj. Kuta continued his exceptional combat leadership during Operation Inherent Resolve, flying combat missions in both Syria and Iraq. On one occasion, he provided airdrop support to C-17s and C-130s assisting the rescue of more than 10,000 Yazidi refugees who were stranded on Mount Sinjar. Later, he was selected as deputy mission commander for the second night of airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, where he led more than 70 fighter and support aircraft from three coalition nations in the destruction of 36 black market oil refineries that were generating an estimated $2 million in profits each day for ISIS. “His stellar performance as a combat leader in three areas of responsibility at the same time speaks volumes of his competence and intelligence,” said Col. Mark H. Slocum ’92, commander of the 4th Fighter Wing, in a memorandum endorsing Maj. Kuta’s nomination. “Major Kuta’s ability to effectively employ weapons in three nations, each with different rules of engagement, while leading young officers into combat is exactly the type of officer the United States Air Force Academy seeks to develop.” Established in 1967, the Col. James Jabara Airmanship Award is presented annually to a USAFA graduate, living or deceased, whose actions directly associated with an aerospace vehicle set him or her apart from contemporaries. The award is jointly presented on behalf of the Academy, the Association of Gradu-
Maj. Matthew Kuta ’05 leaves a greeting for ISIS prior to heading out on a sortie.
“MY MOST SIGNIFICANT MEMORY IS HEARING THE EXCITEMENT OF THE SOLDIERS ON THE GROUND ONCE WE EMPLOYED OUR WEAPONS AND STOPPED THE ATTACK.” ates, and the Jabara family. Col. James Jabara was the first jet ace and the second leading ace in the Korean War. In 1951, he won the Air Force Association’s most prestigious award and in 1957 was recognized as one of the 25 Americans who had contributed the most to aviation. Maj. Kuta joins an extremely exclusive group, becoming the 55th Air Force Academy graduate selected for the Jabara Award. The list of winners includes such distinguished alumni as Vietnam War heroes Karl Richter (’64) and Steve Ritchie (’64), pionevering astronaut Karol Bobko (’59), and Chesley Sullenberger (’73), whose emergency landing of a disabled airliner on the Hudson River was commemorated in the 2016 film “Sully” starring Tom Hanks. Upon notification of his selection, Maj. Kuta said, “I was surprised because I know there are many alumni doing great things.” He pronounced the recognition as “humbling.” He was also quick to credit the Academy training for his performance under pressure,
saying, “It taught me to never quit no matter how uncomfortable you are.” When asked what advice he would have for today’s cadets looking to follow in his footsteps, he replied, “To understand that there is nothing politically correct about war. And when they are deployed in combat, possibly hundreds or thousands of miles away from senior leadership or from anyone who likes them, the only people they can rely on are their fellow teammates and themselves. This means that as an officer they will be the leader, and they must know absolutely everything there is to know about their job because the burden of life and death decisions will be carried upon their shoulders.” Maj. Kuta’s exceptional airmanship, leadership, initiative and tactical employment in hazardous conditions reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. The Academy, the AOG, and the Jabara family are proud to name Maj. Matthew J. Kuta the recipient of the 2016 James Jabara Airmanship Award.
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