Tech. Sgt. Peter Reft is the Non-commissioned officer in charge, Pacific Air Forces F-16 Demonstration Team Public Affairs for the 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office at Misawa Air Base, Japan. As the Demonstration Team PA NCOIC he is responsible for employing all PA disciplines to promote and publicize airshow events, building trust and ambassadorship in support of overseas Air Force Major Commands community engagement programs. He is also charged with managing the team under the Senior Enlisted Leader for manning, equipment, and deployment requirements. Additionally, he is responsible for managing more than $300,000 of visual information equipment for the team.
TSgt. Reft grew up in Illinois, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Photography at Columbia College Chicago. He then decided to lend his skills to the U.S. Air Force by enlisting for service in 2012 and graduated Basic Still Photography at the Defense Information School at Fort George G. Meade, Md. He as served in the Air Force with the Pacific Air Forces and Air Force Special Operations Command for more than 12 years, supporting and leading PA teams for RED FLAG Alaska, U.S. Navy Pacific Partnership, U.S. Marine Corps Balikatan, Bomber Task Forces for PACAF and U.S. Air Forces Europe, and Turkish Government humanitarian and assistance disaster earthquake relief efforts. Prior to his current position, he the NCOIC of Mission Partner Support for the 39th Air Base Wing at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.
Education
- 2009 Bachelors of Art in Photography, Columbia College Chicago, Ill.
- 2012 Basic Still Photography Course, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
- 2016 Airman Leadership School, Kadena AB, Japan
- 2019 Intermediate Public Affairs Specialist Course, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
- 2025 Joint Enlisted PME, Joint Knowledge Online, Non-resident
- 2025 Intermediate Critical Thinking & Structured Analysis, Non-resident
Assignments
- November 2012 - January 2016, Photojournalist, 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska
- January 2016 - January 2021, NCOIC Command Information, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
- February 2021 - January 2023, NCOIC, Community Engagement, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon AFB, N.M.
- February 2023 - January 2024, NCOIC, Mission Partner Support, 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik AB, Turkey
- February 2024 - Present, NCOIC, PACAF F-16 Demonstration Team Public Affairs, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan
Flight Information
- Rating Type: operational support flyer
- Flight Hours: More than 200
- Aircraft Supported: NASA research C-130, KC-135 Stratotanker, MH-60S Sea Hawk, UH-60 Black Hawk, F-15 Eagle, MV-22 Osprey, MC-130J Commando II, HC-130 Hercules, AC-130J Ghostrider gunship, RC-135 Rivet Joint
Major Awards and Decorations
- Public Affairs Communication Excellence SSgt Christopher S. Frost Outstanding Communications NCO
- USAF Media Contest News Photo
- PACAF Photographer of the Year
- AFSOC Video Documentation of the Year
- AFSOC Information Story of the Year
- PACAF Media Contest Documentation Photo
- Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
- Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
- Air and Space Commendation Medal
Effective Dates of Promotion
- Airman 1st Class May 22, 2012
- Senior Airman March 22, 2014
- Staff Sergeant January 1, 2017
- Technical Sergeant September 1, 2024