**Recommendations From:** LtCol Jerem y Kokenes

**Title:** Director of Operations, Special Operations Command North **Date of Hire:** N/A

– US Air Force **Primary Phone:** 850

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- 6538 **Alternate Phone:** N/A **Email Address:** Kokenes@hotmail.com **Years Acquainted:** 7 **Flying Comments:**  I wholeheartedl y recommend Dan iel Florence to fly for the airlines

. Daniel is an accomplished and respected pilot in multiple USAF Major Weapon Sy s tems (MWS) including the challenging Special O perations CV

- 22 Osprey . Dan was selected specifically for assignment at the Air Force’s onl y CV

- 22 Formal Training Unit (FTU) at Kirtland Air Force Base. He is a Flight Commander whose responsibilities include instructing new CV

- 22 crews and preparing th em for extremely demanding operations under Air Force Special Operations Command. While Ihave never flown with Dan at the controls, I have conducted multiple military related aviation missions, and Ialso personally have known several of his flying squadron commanders who all express great accolades for Dan and his aviation skills. **Work Comments:** I was Dan 's commander in Kandahar , Afghanistan in 2010 and have kept in close contact with him since then. I commanded a Special Operations Air Element and Dan was my Director of Operations. For over 90 day s, h e was tasked to help me stand up a new organization while overseeing fl yi ng operations for US Air Force, Army and fo reign special operations units . He performed his functions with great skill, competence, and professionalism especiall y during times of heightened stress. He was instrumental in executed the first

- ever integration of an Arab Special Operations Aviation Task Force. His leadership and c harisma with these fore ign fighters was crucial to the success of integrating three different aircraft into 180 missions. I relied on Dan as m y 2 nd in command to lead our Joint Operations Center (JOC) , and he did so in an outstanding manner despite grueli ng conditions, constant rocket attacks and a high operations tempo. He was also critical to helping build and stand up a new forward operations camp, with living areas and a new JOC while simultaneously conducti ng his dail y tasks. His dedicati on to missio n helped double special operations air command

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- control (C2) capabilities in the region. During his short time under my command, he had direct oversight and C2 of 7 different MWS, 334 combat sorties, movement of over 2,25 0 special operations forces, tr ansportation of 800 tons of critical combat equipment, 78 named operations, 48 close air support missions , andhelped with the capture/incapacitation of 18 high value targets. Dan is a leader and was

respected and looked up to for these qualities by subor dinates, peers, other military organizations and aviators from other nations. I officiall y ranked Dan 1 out of 7 Captains and h is professionalism and performance as my Director of Operations grabbed the attention of my boss, who subsequently

ranked him To p 10% of 455 Company Grade Officers in the 1 st Special Operations Group at Hurlburt Field. While Isincerel y recommend him to fly for the airlines due to his aviation skills, Iam thankful to also know Dan as a leader, warrior, patriot, comrade in ar ms and friend. I do not hesitate to endorse his desire to transition to fly for the airlines and I personall y guarantee his success.