AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  GWOT
MODEL:  MC-130

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH "C" DEVICE to Lieutenant Colonel Jason T. Wright for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Airborne Mission Commander, 67th Special Operations Squadron, 352d Special Operations Wing, in support Operation INHERENT RESOLVE on 28 January 2017. On that date Colonel Wright expertly coordinated a Presidentially-directed counter terrorism operation which incorporated 39 air assets from all four branches of the Department of Defense into hostile, denied airspace. As airborne mission commander, he skillfully synchronized the flight operations of three MC-I30 aircraft by integrating them into a larger 22 aircraft strike package, and making real-time tactical decisions including two on-call refueling of CH-53s and MV-22s, which resulted in the successful exfiltration of seven crew from a downed MV-22 behind enemy lines. Additionally, he directed one of his aircraft to land in enemy territory and conduct the successful casualty evacuation of two critically wounded and directed another crew to shutdown engines at an austere airfield in order to enable the exfiltration of the entire helicopter assault force. Finally, he guided his crews in the avoidance of both active anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles, ultimately enabling the elimination of 14 enemy combatants, to include three senior leaders, as well as the recovery of critical sensitive intelligence materials. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Wright reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.