AIR FORCE ONE PILOTS ALWAYS BRING THEIR ‘A’ GAME By Jeff Holmquist
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What’s it like to pilot the most recognizable aircraft in the world? More than a few USAFA graduates could tell you. When the U.S. president takes a trip on Air Force One, quite often the pilot at the controls was once a cadet. In fact, when then-President Barack Obama was the commencement speaker at the Academy graduation in June, three graduates piloted Air Force One to bring him to Colorado. Lt. Col. Dan Thorn ’92 (now retired), Lt. Col. Rob Tobler ’92 and Maj. Brett Ellis ’03 were singled out as part of the president’s address. “Now, I have to tell, some days I spend more time with the Air Force than my own family,” President Obama told the crowd. “Especially on Air Force One. You take good care of me. You are always on time. You never lose my luggage. I don’t have to take off my shoes before I get on. So I’m really going to miss Air Force One … as well as the incredible airmen that I’ve come to know.” Even today, the current leadership and pilot corps within the Presidential Airlift Group at Joint Base Andrews continues to have a distinct U.S. Air Force Academy flavor. The Presidential Airlift Group Commander is Col. Bruce Ybarra ’93, the 15th presidential pilot in the history of the 89th Airlift Wing. The Presidential Airlift Squadron Commander is Lt. Col. Sean “Knute” Adcock ’98, who also flies Air Force One. “Col. Ybarra is probably the most active flying group commander in the Air Force, and I think I’m one of the most active flying squadron commander in the Air Force,” he claims. “We value operational expertise over everything.” Adcock has been at Andrews since 2012 and has been flying Air Force One since 2014. He became the squadron commander almost two years ago. “I really can’t think of a better group of people to work with,” he says. “I love it. Every day I pinch myself.” USAF photo by Senior Airman Mariah Haddenham
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