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 Bryan N. Bailey for heroism while participating in aerial flight. Technical Sergeant Bryan N. Bailey distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while engaged in military operations involving conflict against an opposing foreign force as Instructor Loadmaster, C-17 A, 16th Airlift Squadron, 437th Operations Group, 437th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, at Hamid Karzai International Airport on 16 August 2021. On that date, Sergeant Bailey was the Instructor Loadmaster on a mission delivering Quick Reaction Forces to Kabul, Afghanistan, following a rapid Taliban takeover. During the offload, thousands of Afghan civilians breached the security perimeter and rushed towards his aircraft. Faced with a rapidly deteriorating and volatile security situation, his crew made the determination to depart the airfield immediately. Despite the complexity of the operations, he was able to seal the cargo door moments prior to the civilian crowd reaching their location. The crew assessed that fewer than ten minutes elapsed between the initial perimeter breach notification and the first civilian contact with the aircraft. Due to design limitations, the crew was unable to secure the aircraft entry door from the inside. While the crowd attempted to force the doors open, Sergeant Bailey directed four crewmembers and passengers to physically hold the door handles closed in order to prevent Afghan civilians from entering the aircraft. While dealing with these violent interferences, he swiftly computed the weight and balance calculations with severely limited time. His leadership, decisiveness, and courage in the face of a dangerous and life-threatening situation saved the lives of the six crewmembers and twelve passengers on board his aircraft and protected sensitive equipment and cargo vital to national security interests. These events drove immediate policy changes on the withdrawal and evacuation efforts in the Departments of Defense and State, thus ensuring the success of Allies Refuge, the single greatest airlift operation in history. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Bailey reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.