Graduating the future of flight: Class 25-07 Published March 21, 2025 By Airman 1st Class Harrison Sullivan 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Twenty-three U.S. Air Force officers were awarded the coveted silver wings as a symbol of their hard work and training during a graduation ceremony held March 20, 2025. Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) is a training program that helps prepare prospective military pilots. Upon completion of the program, graduates earn their silver wings as Air Force aviators. The graduating class of 25-07 pose together for a group photo at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, March. 20, 2025. Twenty-three U.S. Air Force officers were awarded silver wings during the ceremony, symbolizing their completion of the Undergraduate Pilot Training program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Harrison Sullivan) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The guest speaker at the Class 25-07 graduation ceremony was U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Christopher Niemi, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, commander. As the commander, Niemi oversees five wings and two named units with more than 13,000 military and civilian personnel. Niemi entered the Air Force in 1993 as a Reserve Officer Training Corps graduate from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He completed UPT at Laughlin Air Force Base in June of 1995. During his F-15E operational assignments he participated in Operation Allied Force as a combat mission commander, attended the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and was selected as one of eight F-22 Initial Operational Test and Evaluation pilots. He was subsequently assigned to numerous fifth generation fighter units responsible for operations, operational tests, and pilot qualification. He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels. Additionally, he served in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and led the Jeanne M. Holm Center where he was responsible for Officer Training School, ROTC, and Junior ROTC. Prior to his current position, he was the Director of Plans, Programs, and Requirements, at both Pacific Air Forces and Air Combat Command. Receiving their pilot wings during the ceremony were: Capt. Bryan Brown Capt. Erik Olofsson 1st Lt. Adam Bejaoui 2nd Lt. Mitchel Alfaro 2nd Lt. Wesley Barbara 2nd Lt. Baley Brown 2nd Lt. Christopher Carlson 2nd Lt. Isman Cyair 2nd Lt. Christian Edwards 2nd Lt. Justin Flebbe 2nd Lt. Chance Holmes 2nd Lt. Mark Johnson 2nd Lt. Kenna Landon 2nd Lt. Austin Langley 2nd Lt. Brennan McGraw 2nd Lt. Kayla Milford 2nd Lt. John Pallotta 2nd Lt. Gabrielle Peltier 2nd Lt. Jason Rose 2nd Lt. Dylan Snedeker 2nd Lt. Spencer Stevens 2nd Lt. Deston Wagner 2nd Lt. Joshua White U.S. Air Force Airmen from graduating Class 25-07 break their wings at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, March. 20, 2025. Twenty-three U.S. Air Force officers were awarded silver wings during the ceremony, symbolizing their completion of the Undergraduate Pilot Training program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Harrison Sullivan) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res In addition to the graduation ceremony, a special emphasis was placed on recognizing the sacrifices and contributions of military spouses. It served as a reminder that while the graduates were the ones receiving their wings, their achievements were also a testament to the love, sacrifice and constant support of their spouses, who serve alongside them in spirit and strength. “Military spouses are often said to ‘live in the shadows’,” said Lt Col. Aaron Borszich, commander of the 47th Student Squadron. “Although not in uniform, spouses have an essential role to play and are the backbone of the military community. Tonight is about your pilots earning their wings, but also a recognition of you. Your love, sacrifice and ad nauseam quizzing of bold face procedures has not gone unnoticed.” The ceremony proceeded with the breaking of the wings, a tradition symbolizing the start of a new journey for the novice pilots. According to the tradition, the first pair of wings a pilot receives should never be worn. Instead, the wings should be broken into two halves to invite good fortune throughout the pilot’s aviation career. One half is kept by the pilot, while the other is given to a significant person in their life. To preserve that good luck, those two halves are said to only be brought together again in the next life. U.S. Air Force Airmen from graduating Class 25-07 present one half of their broken wings to their loved ones at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, March. 20, 2025. twenty-three U.S. Air Force officers were awarded silver wings during the ceremony, symbolizing their completion of the Undergraduate Pilot Training program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Harrison Sullivan) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The event culminated in the pinning of the wings, where friends and family members affixed a pair of silver wings onto the graduates’ uniforms. This gesture signified the official transition of the students into winged aviators, fully prepared to embrace the forthcoming roles within the United States Air Force. Pilot wings are a symbol of hard work, training, and dedication. Aviation wings are issued to pilots who have achieved a certain level of proficiency or training.