# Jabara Award

The Jabara Award for Airmanship, named in memory of Colonel James Jabara (1923-1966), is awarded each year to the United States Air Force Academy graduate whose accomplishments demonstrate superior performance in fields directly involved with aerospace vehicles.
With 15 kills, Colonel Jabara was the second leading Air Force ace of the Korean War. Colonel Jabara was the First American Jet Ace. Each year the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Association of Graduates present the Colonel James Jabara Award to an academy graduate or graduates whose airmanship contributions are of great significance and set them apart from their contemporaries.
Each major air command, including the Air Force Reserve Command; field operating agency, including the Air National Guard; and direct reporting unit may submit one nomination for the award. The winner of the award is authorized to wear the Air Force Recognition Ribbon.

## Recipients

| Year | Recipients |
| 1968 | Capt Donald D. Stevens, ’60 |
| 1969 | 1st Lt Karl W. Richter, ’64 |
| 1969 | Major Terry R. Jorris, ’61 |
| 1970 | Capt Wayne A. Warner, ’63 |
| 1971 | Capt Neil B. Crist, ’66 |
| 1972 | Capt R. Stephen Ritchie, ’64 |
| 1973 | Capt Dale E. Stovall, ’67 |
| 1974 | Major Robert A. Lodge, ’64 |
| 1975 | Capt Ronald T. Rand, ’71 Capt Donald R. Backlund, ’71 |
| 1976 | Lt Col Michael V. Love, ’60 |
| 1977 | Major Roger E. Carleton, ’67 |
| 1978 | Lt Col Wayne F. Kendall Jr., ’60 |
| 1979 | Major M. H. Bushnell, ’64 |
| 1980 | Colonel Thomas A. LaPlante, ’61 |
| 1981 | Capt William T. Gillin, ’73 |
| 1982 | Lt Col Robert L. Brenci, ’63 |
| 1983 | Major Neal D. Coyle, ’72 Colonel Karol J. Bobko, ’59 |
| 1984 | Capt Michael P. Davis, ’78 |
| 1985 | Colonel James N. Allburn, ’63 |
| 1986 | Major Larry E. Faber, ’73 |
| 1987 | Capt James A. Trinka, ’78 |
| 1988 | Major Marc D. Felman, ’76 Capt Thomas M. Ferguson, ’81 |
| 1989 | Lt Col Robert H. Schnick, ’72 |
| 1990 | Capt Francis R. Gabreski, ’81 |
| 1991 | Capt William F. Andrews, ’80 |
| 1992 | Major Corby L. Martin, ’80 |
| 1993 | Major Ali C. Frohlich, ’80 |
| 1994 | Lt Col James A. Sills, ’74 |
| 1995 | Capt Harold E. Waters, ’85 |
| 1996 | Lt Col Robert P. Donnelly Jr., ’77 |
| 1997 | Lt Col David J. Scott, ’78 |
| 1998 | Capt Daniel E. Flynn, ’91 |
| 1999 | Major Peter E. Gersten, ’89 |
| 2000 | Major James L. Cardoso, ’88 |
| 2001 | Major Julian M. Chesnutt, ’89 |
| 2002 | Major Henry C. Thompson, ’87 |
| 2003 | Major Leighton T. Anderson, ’92 Major Edward J. Lengel, ’92 |
| 2004 | Major Jason L. Hanover, ’92 |
| 2005 | Lt Col Keith Schultz, ’79 |
| 2006 | Capt John Vargas, '96 |
| 2007 | Maj Mark W. Visconi, '93 |
| 2008 | Capt Jonathan W. Graham, '99 |
| 2009 | Chesley B. Sullenberger, '73 Capt. Travis A. Burton, '00 |
| 2010 | Capt Prichard R. Keely, '04 |
| 2011 | Capt Mike Polidor, '04 |
| 2012 | Capt Joseph "Drew" Hext, '02 |
| 2013 | Capt Christopher D. McConnell, '05 |
| 2014 | Capt Charles Napier, '06 |
| 2015 | Capt Kyle Babbit, '08 |
| 2016 | Maj Matthew Kuta, '05 |
| 2017 | Capt Brian Guyette, '08 |
| 2018 | Maj Marc Catalano, '06 |
| 2019 | Col. Tyler "Nick" Hague, '98 Maj. Caitlin T. Reilly, '07 |
| 2020 | Capt Alexander E. Boules, ’15 |
| 2021 | Maj. J. Cameron Dilts, '10 |
| 2022 | Maj Kirby Wedan, '12 Maj Tyler Ringwald, '11 Maj Eric Goral, '10 |
| 2023 | Maj Richard Yount, '14 |