Air Mobility Command Well Done Award Presented to Capt Christopher Jones, 50th Air Refueling Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, FL

On December 9, 2024, Capt Christopher Jones’s quick thinking and decisive actions averted catastrophic damage to a fifty-five million dollar KC-135 aircraft during a mission in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. After an uneventful landing at St. Croix, the aircraft was parked on a civilian ramp and the two crew chiefs commenced post-flight procedures on the aircraft’s exterior, while the aircrew completed shutdown protocols. One of the crew chiefs removed the chocks to straighten the nose gear, unaware that the parking brakes had already been released. Consequently, the aircraft began rolling backward uncontrollably for fifteen seconds. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Jones, serving as the copilot, immediately instructed the Aircraft Commander to activate the electrical system, hydraulic pressure, and auxiliary pumps. The Aircraft Commander promptly executed these actions, bringing the aircraft to a stop just feet from colliding with a building. Jones’s extensive system knowledge and composure under pressure not only prevented the aircraft from endangering the lives of the servicing crew chiefs but also safeguarded the high-value asset.