2nd Lt Travis B. Wilkie (USAFA '18)
2nd Lt Travis B. Wilkie, 23, was killed in a T-38 flight training accident on November 21st, 2019 at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. He was a member of the 71st Student Squadron where he served as a T-6A and T-38C Student Pilot.
Lt Wilkie was born in La Jolla, CA and was raised in Point Loma - a small beach town in Southern California. He was an incredible athlete and he grew up playing a multitude of sports to include basketball, soccer, football, surfing, snowboarding and swimming. However, nothing compared to his true love: America’s past time. He played competitive baseball for his high school and various traveling club teams.
Lt Wilkie put in the hard work required academically, and eventually received offers to play baseball at multiple Division 1 schools. Ultimately, Lt Wilkie’s desire to serve his country outweighed the other offers, and he committed to the United States Air Force Academy where he played catcher for the Falcons baseball team for all four years. Lt Wilkie had it all; along with being a Division 1 athlete, he was very successful in the classroom and graduated with a degree in Systems Engineering.
As a student in T-6’s, Lt Wilkie hit the ground running and led the way as a team player and a dedicated student. His great attitude and unrivaled work ethic earned him Echo Flight’s “Hard Charger” Award, noting his performance. As a student in T-38s, there was only more of the same. Lt Wilkie was known as a true professional and faced all challenges with a smile on his face.
Despite all the accomplishments Lt Wilkie had already achieved in such a short time on earth, his focus was always on being a better person. In his own words: “In terms of life goals, I want to be a great husband and a great father someday. I want to be someone that my wife and kids trust, love, and cherish.” This is evidence of what kind of person, husband, son, and officer that Lt Wilkie truly was.
Lt Wilkie is survived by his wife Peyton, as well as his parents Donald and Carlene and sister Cameron.
2nd Lt Travis B. Wilkie, 23, was killed in a T-38 flight training accident on November 21st, 2019 at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. He was a member of the 71st Student Squadron where he served as a T-6A and T-38C Student Pilot.
Lt Wilkie was born in La Jolla, CA and was raised in Point Loma - a small beach town in Southern California. He was an incredible athlete and he grew up playing a multitude of sports to include basketball, soccer, football, surfing, snowboarding and swimming. However, nothing compared to his true love: America’s past time. He played competitive baseball for his high school and various traveling club teams.
Lt Wilkie put in the hard work required academically, and eventually received offers to play baseball at multiple Division 1 schools. Ultimately, Lt Wilkie’s desire to serve his country outweighed the other offers, and he committed to the United States Air Force Academy where he played catcher for the Falcons baseball team for all four years. Lt Wilkie had it all; along with being a Division 1 athlete, he was very successful in the classroom and graduated with a degree in Systems Engineering.
As a student in T-6’s, Lt Wilkie hit the ground running and led the way as a team player and a dedicated student. His great attitude and unrivaled work ethic earned him Echo Flight’s “Hard Charger” Award, noting his performance. As a student in T-38s, there was only more of the same. Lt Wilkie was known as a true professional and faced all challenges with a smile on his face.
Despite all the accomplishments Lt Wilkie had already achieved in such a short time on earth, his focus was always on being a better person. In his own words: “In terms of life goals, I want to be a great husband and a great father someday. I want to be someone that my wife and kids trust, love, and cherish.” This is evidence of what kind of person, husband, son, and officer that Lt Wilkie truly was.
Lt Wilkie is survived by his wife Peyton, as well as his parents Donald and Carlene and sister Cameron.
2nd Lt Travis B. Wilkie, 23, was killed in a T-38 flight training accident on November 21st, 2019 at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. He was a member of the 71st Student Squadron where he served as a T-6A and T-38C Student Pilot.
Lt Wilkie was born in La Jolla, CA and was raised in Point Loma - a small beach town in Southern California. He was an incredible athlete and he grew up playing a multitude of sports to include basketball, soccer, football, surfing, snowboarding and swimming. However, nothing compared to his true love: America’s past time. He played competitive baseball for his high school and various traveling club teams.
Lt Wilkie put in the hard work required academically, and eventually received offers to play baseball at multiple Division 1 schools. Ultimately, Lt Wilkie’s desire to serve his country outweighed the other offers, and he committed to the United States Air Force Academy where he played catcher for the Falcons baseball team for all four years. Lt Wilkie had it all; along with being a Division 1 athlete, he was very successful in the classroom and graduated with a degree in Systems Engineering.
As a student in T-6’s, Lt Wilkie hit the ground running and led the way as a team player and a dedicated student. His great attitude and unrivaled work ethic earned him Echo Flight’s “Hard Charger” Award, noting his performance. As a student in T-38s, there was only more of the same. Lt Wilkie was known as a true professional and faced all challenges with a smile on his face.
Despite all the accomplishments Lt Wilkie had already achieved in such a short time on earth, his focus was always on being a better person. In his own words: “In terms of life goals, I want to be a great husband and a great father someday. I want to be someone that my wife and kids trust, love, and cherish.” This is evidence of what kind of person, husband, son, and officer that Lt Wilkie truly was.
Lt Wilkie is survived by his wife Peyton, as well as his parents Donald and Carlene and sister Cameron.
