![]() ![]() “Following our squadron reorganization, we got the request to go to Honduras after it had been hit by Hurricanes Eta and Iota,” said Peeler. His role was also responsible for leading 104 members, managing a $1.9 million budget, planning of several joint training exercises and maintaining an alert posture for any short-notice contingency operations. “It was stressful for every single person out there but the guys were able to pull it together and I had a lot of great NCOs helping me as well.”įollowing his return from deployment and some well-deserved rest and relaxation time, Peeler was back to the grind at the 23rd STS, again in a critical squadron leadership role contributing to his award. As a flight commander, he was critical to the squadron’s reorganization and pivoting operational priorities towards great power competition. “Keeping the team motivated was a huge challenge, but you just had to as best as you could, maintain a positive attitude knowing that we were all in it together,” said Peeler. Towards the end of his time downrange, COVID-19 started creating additional challenges and uncertainty back home extending his team’s deployment by a couple of months. His team conducted 15 airfield surveys enabling partner forces as well as served on the response force for a downed aircraft. ![]() Not only did Peeler prove himself on the battlefield as a JTAC, but also switched halfway through his deployment to lead a Special Tactics team in global access operations in the area of responsibility. “On several missions, the A-10s flying overhead were classmates of mine from the Academy and as cheesy as it sounds it was pretty cool to know the pilots personally and conduct combat operations together,” said Peeler. Air Force Academy, Peeler also mentioned being able to serve downrange with some of his former classmates. “For one mission I was able to utilize overhead to identify an enemy combatant who was planting an on our exfil route, so being able to eliminate that threat before it became a problem later in the day was incredibly helpful for the ground force,” said Peeler.Īs a 2015 graduate from the U.S. He said some of his most memorable moments were the ones where his specialized air-ground integration capabilities came into play to keep him and his team safe. I got to work with a great and the teammates I had downrange were incredible.”Īccording to Peeler’s award citation, he controlled approximately 114 aircraft and conducted 121 precision strikes, many of which were in danger close range. “It was the most rewarding and gratifying job I’ve had thus far. “I was very fortunate to have been placed on a team where we had a lot of kinetic effects on the battlefield,” said Peeler. ![]() He started his year deployed as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller attached to a U.S. ![]() While Peeler attributes the award to a lot of good luck and timing, his proficiency in his field afforded him opportunities to serve in various leadership roles throughout the year. Nate Peeler, a STO assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida was recognized as one of Air Force Special Operations Command’s 2020 Outstanding Airmen of the Year in the Company Grade Officer category during a ceremony May 13, 2021. However, the pandemic did not slow down the accomplishments of one Special Tactics Officer who had one of the busiest and rewarding years of his career thus far. For most, 2020 was marked by the new challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic including working from home, zoom meetings and travel restrictions. ![]()
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