Captain Ethan “BANTAM” Smith

Capt. Ethan J. Smith is the Pacific Air Forces F-16 Demonstration Team commander and Demonstration Pilot. In this position, he leads a team of pilot safety officers, maintainers, and public affairs personnel in demonstrating the aerial capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon at airshows across the Pacific area of responsibility. Capt. Smith oversees live performances in front of more than one million spectators annually, supporting U.S. Air Force strategic engagement efforts in the region. He also serves as an F-16 pilot assigned to the 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan.

Capt. Smith commissioned in the Air Force through the Officer Training School program in June 2018. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base in August 2019 and graduated Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals at Randolph Air Force Base in December 2019. He then went on to graduate from F-16 B-Course at Holloman Air Force Base. Smith is assigned to the 13th FS, Misawa AB, where he has held many positions in the squadron prior to his current assignment.

EDUCATION

2016 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautics, University of Central Missouri.

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. April 2018 - June 2018, Cadet, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
  2. June 2018 - Aug 2019, Student Pilot, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Oklahoma
  3. Aug 2019 - Dec 2019, Student Pilot, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Randolph AFB, Texas
  4. Dec 2019 - Nov 2020, Student Pilot, F-16 B-Course, Holloman AFM, New Mexico
  5. Jan 2021 - Present, F-16 Pilot, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
  6. May 2023 - Present, PACAF F-16 Demonstration Team commander/pilot

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters 

National Defense Service Medal

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

First Lieutenant    June 2020

Captain                June 2022

(Current as of Aug 2023)