Pilot earns fighter tactician award

  • Published
  • By Deborah Silliman Wolfe
  • Thunderbolt staff writer
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  A Luke Air Force Base pilot has been named the winner of the Claire Chennault Award for 2008 at the Air Education and Training Command level. 

The Air Force Association sponsors the annual award which recognizes the outstanding fighter tactician from the combat air forces. Capt. George Watkins, 309th Fighter Squadron chief of weapons, has been selected to compete at the Air Force level for his accomplishments in 2008. 

Selection for the Chennault Award is based on accomplishments or demonstrated proficiency of the highest order in fighter warfare tactics development, application of innovative weapons and tactics, and instruction of tactics that significantly contribute to increased readiness of the CAF. 

"Captain Watkin's is my number one instructor pilot in the 309th Fighter Squadron," said Lt. Col. Peter Bilodeau, 309th Fighter Squadron commander. "He is an excellent mentor, teacher and professional." 

According to Captain Watkins' award package he is the number three instructor pilot out of 215 in the 56th Fighter Wing; has co-chaired the 56th Operations Group Instructor Pilot Council which provides direct input on syllabus, standards and training; and was the 56th FW surface attack tactics phase manager where he developed SPINS for the new B course syllabus' most complex phase. He also attended the CAF-wide 3-1 conference where he was a key contributor in the revision of a number of chapters in F-16 tactic manuals. 

"I have been putting in a lot of hours and doing a lot of work around the squadron," Captain Watkins said. "I attended Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and I am expected to be the resident expert of a lot of stuff. I am also in charge of making sure all the academics for the instructors are up to par. I get to create academics and mission material, and make sure that everything is standardized. I work with other weapons officers around the wing to make sure we're all doing the same things." 

Captain Watkins, an Illinois native, said he has always been interested in flying. Looking for a way to pay for college, he got an ROTC scholarship and attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University majoring in electrical engineering. 

Captain Watkins has been at Luke since December 2007. 

"Luke is great, I love it here," he said. "The instructor pilots in this squadron are awesome and I have a great time working with them." 

When asked if he had a certain philosophy he follows that led to his winning the Chennault Award, Captain Watkins said he doesn't follow a specific system. 

"You know, I don't think about what got me the award, I just really love what I do," he said. "That might have something to do with it. It also helps that my fiancée is really understanding. She knows that I like doing what I do, and I put a lot of time in at work. I try to learn as much as I can so that I do my job the best I can."