D-M pilot named 2006 Shine Award winner

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jamie L. Coggan
  • 355th Fighter WIng Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Major Cory Jeffers, a fighter pilot from the 355th Operations Group here received the Anthony C. Shine Award Oct. 5 as the number one Fighter Pilot for 2006.

"I was surprised and honored that I received the award," said Major Jeffers.

The Anthony C. Shine Award, which began in 1980, is given each year to a fighter pilot for proficiency and professionalism in flying a fighter aircraft.

"Anthony Shine was not only a good aviator, but a good person," said David Carney, Mr. Shine's brother-in-law. "Major Jeffers stands shoulder to shoulder with Anthony along with the previous recipients of the Anthony C. Shine Award."

In 2006, Major Jeffers was the Combined Federal Campaign's coach Airman for all government agencies in Southern Arizona, an A-10 instructor pilot and flight examiner.

"I was offered a lot of opportunities to do a lot of things that normal Fighter Pilots don't," said Major Jeffers. "It has been a long time since a pilot from Davis-Monthan has won the award, so it was very exciting for the wing as well."

Aside from receiving the Shine Award, David Carney presented Major Jeffers with a handmade survival type knife. Mr. Shine was carrying a similar knife when he went missing. The knife contains part of the metal from the A-7 he was flying.

"It was a fitting gift, as Anthony was an avid knife collector," said Mr. Carney.

Major Jeffers was named the best A-10 driver in the largest A-10 wing in Air Combat Command, was number one out of 128 hog aviators and saved more than 36 million dollars in U.S. Air Force assets during three major A-10 emergencies.

"This award is about excellence in flying, but also excellence in life," said Mr. Carney. "The award was not named the Anthony C. Shine award for the way Anthony died, but for the way he lived ... the way Major Jeffers lives his life."

Also in 2006, Major Jeffers was chairman of the wing booster club, and was in charge of the ACC Heritage Flight Conference.

"Major Jeffers is a pilot who embodies the United States Air Force core values," said Lt. Col. Darren Hansen, 358th Fighter Squadron commander.