AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  AC-130U

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Jarrod L. Judd for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as AC-130U Aircraft Commander, 4 th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component Afghanistan, on 24 May 2017, during Operation Freedom's Sentinel in support of Resolute Support Missions. On the date, Major Judd's leadership and decisive action displayed under hazardous conditions insured the safety of 14 crewmembers, as well as 378 American and Afghan special operations forces. Once over the target area, as he and his crew began engaging insurgents entrenched in defensive fighting positions, smoke and fumes began to engulf the flight deck. This emergency alerted him to other electrical emergencies on the aircraft and he directed the flight engineer and copilot to troubleshoot the emergencies and run emergency checklists. He then coordinated for additional close air support assets to be sent immediately for ground force protection, as they were the only fire support asset overhead at the time. Subsequently, multiple malfunctions on the 25 and 40 millimeter cannons occurred. He and his crew stayed overhead prosecuting enemy targets. Despite encountering numerous emergencies and malfunctions, he and his crew continued to engage the enemy for almost an hour, killing 12 insurgents and destroying eight fighting positions. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Judd reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.