 He was a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, primarily in the F-4, F-15 and F-16.In 1977, he was awarded the first Risner Trophy as the outstanding graduate of the USAF Weapons School.In 1993, as Commander of the 401st Fighter Wing in Aviano, Italy, he led the beddown and support of joint and combined airpower in NATO's Deny Flight Operation over Bosnia and Herzegovina.