Sam "Boomer" Shaneyfelt, '86
USAF F-16 "Top Gun" Fighter Pilot
Alumni Profile -- (Fall 1998 Newsletter)
"Captain Shaneyfelt is the instructor every commander wants
in his squadron," according to Commander James Mitchell, Lt.
Col. USAF. He stands out among his peers "with the ideal combination
of superb flying ability, rock solid discipline and outstanding
instructional ability," he stated. "Few aviators this young
possess this broad experience and ability to utilize it so
effectively."
High praise for someone who wouldn't fit your average liberal
arts graduate profile. But for Sam Shaneyfelt (86*), such
praise has been routine.
In June, Shaneyfelt graduated from the U.S. Air Force's prestigious
Weapons School near Las Vegas, Nevada, which is limited to
professional officers who demonstrate the highest standards
of officership and airmanship - the "Top Guns" as
they're frequently referred to. Only about 5% of the Air Force's
fighter pilots are good enough to be admitted to, and graduate
from, Weapons School.
And for Shaneyfelt, the figures are even more impressive.
He flies the fighter that is perhaps most coveted of all fighter
pilots, the F-16 "Viper," (often seen in airshows as the "Thunderbirds").
Only one in 100 applicants are selected for pilot training,
and less than 10% of those who complete pilot training are
assigned the aircraft they want.
"I have to say it was a life-long dream of mine to get
to fly that plane," he says. Sometimes, I still can't
believe I get to do this for a living. I guess I'd rather
be going Mach 2 with my hair on fire than sitting behind a
desk somewhere."
But the dream is reality. Upon graduating from Officer Training
School in 1989, he was honored to be selected for the Euro
NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program, earning not only his
wings, but the F-16. He then completed more training in New
Mexico and at Luke AFB in Arizona, where he graduated at the
top of his class - just days short of the end of the Gulf
War.
Nevertheless, he saw plenty of post-War action, as he was
sent to mop up missions in Northern Iraq helping the Kurds
flee from Iraq. From his home base in Spangdahlem, Germany,
he also did exercises and airshows all over Europe and Turkey.
His flying earned him a 4-ship flight lead and an Instructor
position, rare promotions for a pilot in his first operational
tour
In 1994, he returned to Luke AFB as Supervisor of Flying
and as Chief of Weapons, and with 7 medals, 4 ribbons, and
10 awards to boot, ranging from the Aerial Achievement Medal
to the Humanitarian Service Medal, the "Duke of Nuke" and
numerous "Top Guns."
In July, he was assigned to defend the Korean Peninsula with
the world-famous Juvats, the 80th Fighter Squadron in Kunsan,
Korea. The honor of the appointment, however, is offset by
the strain of being forced to leave his wife, Jackie, and
their three small children behind for one year. Conditions
are too volatile to provide for family safety. He will be
allotted one 30-day visit.
Shaneyfelt will tell you that his liberal education has helped
him be where he is today. "TAC gave me a foundation which
allowed me to seek truth in all things and to come by basic
concepts of tactical weaponry and fighter employment more
easily. I'm also particularly thankful for obtaining a sound
understanding of my faith and a closeness to the sacraments."
This is one pilot who will continue to soar.
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