AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  GWOT
MODEL:  F-15E

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (WITH VALOR) to Lieutenant Colonel Kevin W. Murphy for heroism in aerial flight while engaged in military operations involving conflict against an opposing foreign force as Commander and F-15E Evaluator Pilot, 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 332d Air Expeditionary Wing on 13 April 2024. During this period, Colonel Murphy led a Coalition Defensive Counterair mission to defeat an Iranian attack comprising over three hundred ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and one-way unmanned aerial systems. From the cockpit of his F-15E, he took tactical control of a lane defended by eight United States and Coalition fighter aircraft, while battle-managing a 430 nautical-mile-wide area of responsibility. As the initial onslaught of drone swarms approached. Colonel Murphy descended to low altitude in complete darkness, personally engaging six drones. Despite an intense task load in his own cockpit, he continued to control the larger fight in his lane, at one point preventing potential fratricide by stopping his wingman from shooting without a clear field of fire. When his formation expended all available missiles, having achieved twenty-four kills, he pulled Coalition fighters forward and continued to direct targeting, directly enabling an additional kill. Returning to base under Alarm Red, as PATRIOT missiles launched and Israeli interceptors detonated dozens of Iranian ballistic missiles overhead, Colonel Murphy led his formation through active air defense artillery and intense falling debris, ensuring the safe recovery of four F-15Es and eight aircrew. Colonel Murphy’s intrepid leadership directly enabled the destruction of over seventy Iranian one-way attack drones by Coalition aircraft and played a vital role in blunting Iran’s large­scale attack against Israel, protecting Coalition forces, saving countless civilian lives, and ultimately preventing a larger regional conflict. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Murphy reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.