The Jabara Award for Airmanship, named in memory of Colonel James Jabara

James Jabara

James "Jabby" Jabara was the first American jet ace in history. Born in Oklahoma, he lived in Kansas where he enlisted as an aviation cadet at Fort Riley after graduating high school. Jabara attended four flying schools in Texas before he received his pilot's wings and was commissioned as a ...

 (1923-1966), is awarded each year to the United States Air Force Academy

United States Air Force Academy

The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...

 graduate whose accomplishments demonstrate superior performance in fields directly involved with aerospace vehicles.

With 15 kills, Colonel Jabara was the second leading Air Force ace of the Korean War. Colonel Jabara was the First American Jet Ace. Each year the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Association of Graduates present the Colonel James Jabara Award to an Academy graduate or graduates whose airmanship contributions are of great significance and set them apart from their contemporaries.

Each major air command, field operating agency, including the National Guard and Reserve, and direct reporting unit may submit one nomination for the award. The winner of the award is authorized to wear the Air Force Recognition Ribbon

Air Force Recognition Ribbon

The Air Force Recognition Ribbon is a military award of the United States Air Force which was first created in October 1980. The ribbon is intended to recognize those who have received "non-portable" awards for accomplishment and excellence while serving on active duty in the United States Air...

.

Jabara Award recipients

Year	Recipients
1968	Capt Donald D. Stevens, ’60
1969	1st Lt Karl W. Richter Karl W. Richter Karl Wendell Richter was an officer in the United States Air Force and an accomplished fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. At the age of 23 he was the youngest pilot in that conflict to shoot down a MiG in air-to-air combat.-Early career:Karl W. Richter was born October 4, 1942,the youngest of... , ’64
1969	Major Terry R. Jorris, ’61
1970	Capt Wayne A. Warner, ’63
1971	Capt Neil B. Crist, ’66
1972	Capt R. Stephen Ritchie, ’64
1973	Capt Dale E. Stovall Dale E. Stovall Dale E. Stovall is a former Brigadier General in the United States Air Force who figured prominently in several search and rescue operations during the Vietnam War. A member of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron based in Thailand, on June 2, 1972, he recovered Maj... , ’67
1974	Major Robert A. Lodge, ’64
1975	Capt Ronald T. Rand, ’71 Capt Donald R. Backlund, ’71
1976	Lt Col Michael V. Love, ’60
1977	Major Roger E. Carleton, ’67
1978	Lt Col Wayne F. Kendall, Jr., ’60
1979	Major M. H. Bushnell, ’64
1980	Colonel Thomas A. LaPlante, ’61
1981	Capt William T. Gillin, ’73
1982	Lt Col Robert L. Brenci, ’63
1983	Major Neal D. Coyle, ’72 Colonel Karol J. Bobko Karol J. Bobko Karol Joseph "Bo" Bobko is an engineer, retired United States Air Force officer and a former USAF and NASA astronaut.-Personal:Bobko was born in New York City, New York to a Lithuanian-American family... , ’59
1984	Capt Michael P. Davis, ’78
1985	Colonel James N. Allburn, ’63
1986	Major Larry E. Faber, ’73
1987	Capt James A. Trinka, ’78
1988	Major Marc D. Felman, ’76 Capt Thomas M. Ferguson, ’81
1989	Lt Col Robert H. Schnick, ’72
1990	Capt Francis R. Gabreski, ’81
1991	Capt William F. Andrews William F. Andrews William F. Andrews in Allentown, Pennsylvania.Andrews previously served as a Representative in the House of Representatives of the U.S. state of Florida. He currently lives in Delray Beach, Florida with his family.-External links:*... , ’80
1992	Major Corby L. Martin, ’80
1993	Major Ali C. Frohlich, ’80
1994	Lt Col James A. Sills, ’74
1995	Capt Harold E. Waters, ’85
1996	Lt Col Robert P. Donnelly Jr., ’77
1997	Lt Col David J. Scott, ’78
1998	Capt Daniel E. Flynn, ’91
1999	Major Peter E. Gersten, ’89
2000	Major James L. Cardoso, ’88
2001	Major Julian M. Chesnutt, ’89
2002	Major Henry C. Thompson, ’87
2003	Major Leighton T. Anderson, ’92 Major Edward J. Lengel, ’92
2004	Major Jason L. Hanover, ’92
2005	Lt Col Keith Schultz, ’79
2006	Capt John Vargas John Vargas John Vargas is an American actor best known for his role in the films Primary Colors and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.-Early life:John Vargas was born in the Bronx, New York and moved to Puerto Rico when his father was killed in Vietnam. He was accepted into the Air Force Academy upon finishing... , '96
2007	Maj Mark W. Visconi, '93
2008	Capt Jonathan W. Graham, '99
2009	Chesley B. Sullenberger, '73 Capt. Travis A. Burton, '00 Capt Prichard Keely, '04
2010	Capt. Mike Polidor, '04