U.S. Air Force Col. William Creeden, 1st Fighter Wing commander, smiles in an F-22 Raptor after completing his fini flight at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. Creeden is not only an experienced pilot with over 1,600 hours flying both the F-22 and the F-15C, but leads the 1st FW by providing worldwide rapid deployment and employment of F-22 air dominance fighters, serving as the leader of America’s premier air dominance wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)

U.S. Air Force Col. William Creeden, 1st Fighter Wing commander, smiles after finishing his fini flight at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. This was Creeden’s fini flight- an Air Force tradition marking a pilot’s departure from a unit or the last time they fly an aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)

U.S. Air Force Col. William Creeden, 1st Fighter Wing commander, celebrates as family and friends spray him in champagne and water during his fini flight at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. Creeden is responsible for one third of the Air Force’s combat F-22 Raptors, delivering F-22 air power globally, establishing itself through the work of 1st FW Airmen as the most capable and combat ready F-22 wing in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)

U.S. Air Force Col. William Creeden, 1st Fighter Wing commander, pilots an F-22 Raptor at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. This was Creeden’s fini flight- an Air Force tradition marking a pilot’s departure from a unit or the last time they fly an aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Adam Guest, 1st Fighter Wing command chief, flies in the back seat of a T-38 Talon at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. As the 1st FW’s command chief, Guest was asked by Col. William Creeden, 1st FW commander, to fly with him in celebration of his fini flight in honor and support of the work they’ve done together. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)

U.S. Air Force Col. Gregory Beaulieu, 633d Air Base Wing commander, straps in the back seat of a T-38 Talon at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. Beaulieu was invited by Col. William Creeden, 1st Fighter Wing commander, to participate in his fini flight, which is the celebration of the final flight of a pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)

U.S. Air Force Col. Tyler Ellison, 1st Fighter Wing vice commander, marshals Col. Joshua Dorr, 7th Fighter Squadron commander, piloting a T-38 Talon with Col. Gregory Beaulieu, 633d Air Base Wing commander, in the back seat at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. Beaulieu was invited by Col. William Creeden, 1st Fighter Wing commander, to participate in his fini flight, which is the celebration of the final flight of a pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)

U.S. Air Force Col. William Creeden, 1st Fighter Wing commander, performs a “touch and go” in an F-22 Raptor on the fight line at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. This was Creeden’s fini flight- an Air Force tradition marking a pilot’s departure from a unit or the last time they fly an aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)

U.S. Air Force Col. Gregory Beaulieu, 633d Air Base Wing commander, closes the canopy in the back seat of a T-38 Talon at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. Beaulieu was invited by Col. William Creeden, 1st Fighter Wing commander, to participate in his fini flight, which is the celebration of the final flight of a pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Adam Guest, 1st Fighter Wing command chief, pulls the canopy down in a T-38 Talon before taxiing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. As the 1st FW’s command chief, Guest was asked by Col. William Creeden, 1st FW commander, to fly with him in celebration of his fini flight in honor and support of the work they’ve done together. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)

U.S. Air Force Col. Gregory Beaulieu, 633d Air Base Wing commander, is sprayed with water by his son at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. Beaulieu was invited by Col. William Creeden, 1st Fighter Wing commander, to participate in his fini flight, which is the celebration of the final flight of a pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)

U.S. Air Force Col. Gregory Beaulieu, 633d Air Base Wing commander, smiles while being sprayed with water after flying on T-38 Talon for Col. William Creeden’s fini flight at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. Creeden and Beaulieu work together to ensure the safety of JBLE and its mission partners, combining their strengths as leaders to make the base the best place to live and work. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Adam Guest, left, 1st Fighter Wing command chief, celebrates with Col. Harry Hung, 633d Air Base Wing vice commander, after Col. William Creeden, 1st FW commander, is sprayed with champagne and water at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. As the 1st FW’s command chief, Guest was asked by Col. William Creeden, 1st FW commander, to fly with him in celebration of his fini flight in honor and support of the work they’ve done together. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)

U.S. Air Force Col. William Creeden, left, 1st Fighter Wing commander, takes a photo with Col. Brandon Tellez, 1st Operations Group commander, celebrating Creeden’s fini flight and his time as a leader at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 14, 2023. Creeden is responsible for one third of the Air Force’s combat F-22 Raptors, delivering F-22 air power globally, establishing itself through the work of 1st FW Airmen as the most capable and combat ready F-22 wing in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mikaela Smith)