Captain Zoe M. Kotnik is the first female Commander and Pilot of the United States Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, assigned to the 20th Operations Group, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. As the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team Commander, she leads the 17-member demonstration team whose mission is to inspire the next generation of pilots and maintainers, and to represent the Air Combat Command, United States Air Force, Department of Defense, and the United States of America at more than 20 air shows annually. Capt Kotnik oversees maintenance actions performed on three $43M Lockheed Martin aircraft, and showcases the Viper’s exceptional maneuverability for more than 10 million spectators around the world each year. Capt Kotnik was raised in the small town of Poynette, Wis. Born into a family of aviators, she developed an early passion for flight and made it her life’s goal to become a military aviator. After graduating from Poynette High School in 2007, she attended Basic Cadet Training at the United States Air Force Academy. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and commissioned in May 2011. Upon graduation from the Air Force Academy, she was selected for undergraduate pilot training and flew the T-6B Texan II and the T-38C Talon. After earning her wings in October 2013, Capt Kotnik moved on to Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and learned to fly the F-16C Fighting Falcon. Capt Kotnik served her first operational assignment as a one-year remote tour assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. As a wingman in the 35th Fighter Squadron, she held the position of Electronic Combat Pilot and flew missions in the support and defense of the Republic of Korea. After completing her tour, she was assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw AFB, S.C, where she flew missions in support of Operation Noble Eagle and served as an Instructor Pilot in the 55th Fighter Squadron to train new F-16 wingmen as combat mission ready fighter pilots. While assigned to the 20th FW, Capt Kotnik was selected to be the Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team Commander and Pilot. She is an operational, combat ready fighter pilot with over 1000 hours in military aircraft.
<p>EDUCATION
2011 Bachelor of Science, Economics, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2015 Fighter Electronic Combat Officer's Course, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2016 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2011-March 2013, Student Pilot, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla.
2. March 2013-October 2013, Student Pilot, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
3. December 2013-January 2014, Pilot, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Randolph AFB, TX
4. February 2014-January 2015, Pilot, F-16 Basic Course, Luke AFB, Ariz
5. February 2015-February 2016, F-16 Pilot, Activity Security Manager, 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
6. April 2015-July 2018, F-16 Pilot, Chief of Training, 55th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
7. January 2019-Present, F-16 Pilot, Viper Demonstration Team Commander, Shaw AFB, S.C.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 25, 2011
First Lieutenant May 25, 2013
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Captain May 25, 2015
<p>Courtesy of U.S. Air force photo
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2018-11-26 09:30:03
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