CAPT JOHN “RAIN” WATERS

Captain John Waters is the United States Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team Commander and Pilot based at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. As the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team Commander, he is responsible for representing Air Combat Command, United States Air Force, Department of Defense, and the United States of America at more than 20 air shows annually. He leads the 15-member F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, oversees maintenance actions performed on the Lockheed Martin $43M demo aircraft, and showcases the Viper’s exceptional maneuverability for more than 10 million spectators around the world each year. He is an operational F-16 pilot assigned to the 20th Operations Group, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.

Capt Waters is from Peachtree City, Georgia. He attended Starr’s Mill High School, in Fayetteville, Georgia, graduating in 2003. Following high school, he attended Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in International Affairs and earning his commission through the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Reserve Officer Training Program.

Capt Waters attended pilot training at Columbus AFB, Mississippi where he earned his wings flying the T-6 Texan II and the T-38C Talon. Capt Waters then attended Pilot Instructor Training at Randolph AFB, Texas graduating as a Distinguished Graduate prior to returning to Columbus AFB as First Assignment Instructor Pilot in the T-6 Texan II. While serving as a T-6 Instructor Pilot, Capt Waters deployed as a Mission Commander in the MC-12W Liberty, flying 128 combat missions in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Following his assignment at Columbus AFB, Capt Waters then completed Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals graduating as a Distinguished Graduate prior to attending F-16 Basic Course at Luke AFB, Arizona. Upon graduation, Capt Waters was then assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron at Shaw AFB, South Carolina as an operational F-16 pilot and flew 53 combat missions in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Capt Waters later served as the Chief of Flight Safety for the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw AFB.

While assigned to the 20th FW he was selected to be the Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Pilot. Capt Waters is a combat seasoned fighter pilot with over 960 combat hours in the MC-12W and F-16.

EDUCATION
2003 Starr’s Mill High School, Fayetteville, Georgia
2007 Bachelor of Science International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology
2007 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama

2011 Masters of Science Emergency Management, Jacksonville State University
2014 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama


ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2007 – July 2008, Squadron Duty Officer, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, GA
2. July 2008 – September 2009, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, MS.

3. September 2009 – February 2010, Student, Pilot Instructor Training, 559 FTS Randolph AFB, TX.

4. February 2010- December 2012, T-6 Instructor Pilot, Check Pilot, Executive Officer 41 FTS, Columbus AFB, MS.

5. December 2011- August 2012, MC-12W Mission Commander, Flight Commander, 361 Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, Kandahar AB, Afghanistan.

6. December 2012-May 2013, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 49 FTS Columbus AFB, MS.

7. May 2013 – February 2014, Student, F-16 Basic Course, 308 FS Luke AFB, AZ.

8. March 2014 – January 2016, F-16 Pilot, 77 FS Shaw AFB, SC.

9. January 2016 - December 2016, F-16 Pilot, Chief of Flight Safety, 20 FW, Shaw AFB, SC.

10. February 2017 – Present, F-16 Demo Team Commander/Pilot, Shaw AFB, SC.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Medal with 7 OLC

Aerial Achievement Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal 1 OLC

National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon

AF Longevity Service

NATO Medal

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Senior Pilot

Flight Hours: 2,200

Aircraft Flown: F-16, MC-12W, T-6, T-38

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 2007
First Lieutenant May 30, 2009
Captain May 30, 2011


(Current as of September 2016)