Capt. 
Eric Ziegler, 30, an operational test and evaluation instructor pilot with the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev., is the airman who died last week when his F-16C crashed in the desert near Caliente, Nev., during a training mission, announced Air Force officials. “Words can’t express how much we’ll miss Eric,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Suttlemyre, 422nd TES commander in a Nellis release. “He was a special friend, a phenomenal husband and father, and a terrific aviator and officer. Our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time.” A native of West Fargo, N.D., Ziegler graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2003. He was an experienced pilot with more than 1,200 flight hours, primarily in the F-16, including more than 300 flight hours in combat. Ziegler recently had been selected to attend the elite Air Force Weapons School at Nellis. (See also Grand Forks Herald report.)
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
