260908-F-KN215-0168
Capt. Michael Cloninger, middle, F-22 Raptor pilot from the 90th Fighter Squadron, 3rd Operations Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, poses with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach, right, and Kris Kolligian, left, nephew of Koren Kolligian, during an award ceremony, at the Pentagon, Sept. 8, 2026. The Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy recognizes outstanding feats of airmanship by aircrew members who by extraordinary skill, exceptional alertness, ingenuity, or proficiency, averted accidents or minimized the seriousness of the accidents in terms of injury, loss of life, aircraft damage, or property damage. This trophy memorializes 1st Lt. Koren Kolligian Jr., an Air Force pilot declared missing in the line of duty when his T-33 aircraft disappeared off the California coast on Sep. 14, 1955. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Trujillo)