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Academy supt caps off 35-year AF career with ‘final flight’

Story by Ray Bowden, photos by Trevor Cokley, Aug. 14, 2020

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria took his final flight as an Air Force pilot here Aug. 14.

A final flight is a tradition for superintendents who leave the Air Force Academy for another assignment or retire from the Air Force.

Silveria was the passenger in TG-15 sailplane glider flown by Cadet 1st Class Robert O’Connor. The flight began just after 9 a.m. and landed just before 10 a.m. to the cheers of a flight crew with the 94th Flying Training Squadron.

“I took my first flight here in 1981,” said Silveria, a 1985 Academy graduate. “You know it’s time to leave when the first aircraft you flew in is now hanging in a museum,” he said with a laugh.

Silveria complimented O’Connor on his flying skills.

“We hit ‘4 G’ and went upside down once, but I didn’t let him do too many negative G’s,” he said with a laugh. “Thanks, Rob.”

Silveria will retire from the Air Force later this year. He’s been the superintendent since Aug. 11, 2017.

Earlier this month, the Senate confirmed Lt. Gen. Richard Clark to be the Academy’s next superintendent. Clark reports for duty in September.

 

 

 

U.S. Air Force Academy — (U.S. Air Force photo/Trevor Cokley)