AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  GWOT
MODEL:  C-17A

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (with “C” Device) to Captain Byron L. Gray for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Instructor Aircraft Commander, C-17 A, 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, 385th Air Expeditionary Group, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar on 30 August 2021. On that date, Captain Gray was the Aircraft Commander and two-ship lead for one of the seven aircraft tasked with the covert Joint Tactical Exfiltration of Kabul. Upon arrival into the airspace surrounding Hamid Karzai International Airport, he observed air defense artillery, flares, and heavy machine gun fire on the approach, along with further reports placing rooftop snipers nearby. Despite hazardous conditions, as pilot he monitored and deconflicted the approach with airborne command and control via radio and received landing clearance from the on scene combat controller. Upon landing, he coordinated ground maneuvers with controllers to secure the aircraft on the vulnerable airfield. On the ground, he was the direct contact to the mission commander. Once conditions were set, he confirmed that the airfield was secure for the final five-­ship enroute and green-lit the formation's arrival and covert exfiltration. After receiving reports from his crew of directed mortar fire to the airfield, Captain Gray expeditiously piloted a tactical departure while under attack by small arms fire and was the sixth to last aircraft to depart Kabul. The leadership, courage, and decisiveness of Captain Gray directly ensured the culmination of Allies Refuge, a sub operation that ultimately airlifted 124,000 individuals from Taliban control. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Gray reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.