Lt. Col. William “Skate” Parks, an accomplished Air Force F-16 commander, has been honored with the Silver Star, a prestigious award recognizing valor in combat. Parks demonstrated exceptional bravery by deliberately flying into one of the Middle East’s most fortified air-defense zones, evading enemy missiles for a tense 15 minutes while perilously low on fuel.

The commendation was presented to Parks during a ceremony at the Pentagon on November 26. An official release from the Air Force highlighted that his courageous actions during a high-risk mission in early 2025 not only incapacitated enemy missile production facilities but also safeguarded the lives of his wingman and potentially prevented the loss of two American aircraft.

During the mission on March 27, Parks held the position of commander of the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and led a formidable strike package of 21 aircraft. His role was pivotal as he directed a four-ship formation of F-16 Fighting Falcons, charged with the critical task of Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). This mission involved drawing enemy fire to clear a safe path for the remaining forces.

According to the Air Force, Parks made the intentional decision to enter the threat range of a sophisticated air defense system safeguarding the enemy’s capital. His strategic maneuvering was instrumental in “crippling enemy ballistic missile production facilities,” as noted in the citation accompanying his award.

“Parks intentionally placed himself in threat range of a complex air defense zone protecting the enemy’s capital,” the Air Force said. His decision, the citation states, was key to “crippling enemy ballistic missile production facilities.”

It also placed his formation squarely in the crosshairs. Enemy forces fired a “barrage of precisely targeted” missiles and anti-aircraft fire at the F-16s, triggering a 15-minute sequence of violent high-G maneuvers and countermeasures.

“For 15 minutes, with enemy missiles detonating mere feet from his aircraft, Parks led his flight through a series of high-G maneuvers and countermeasure employment,” the citation states.

The danger didn’t end once the barrage stopped. Parks was still deep in enemy territory and below minimum fuel levels, according to the Air Force. He quickly coordinated an emergency rendezvous with two separate tankers to keep the jets airborne long enough to reach safety, a move the service said likely prevented the loss of two aircraft.

The citation concludes that Parks’ “courageous and steadfast actions directly contributed to the survival of his wingman and himself.”

Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Air Force chief of staff, who presented the Silver Star, stressed the rarity of the honor.

“It’s a rare day when someone earns a Silver Star, with less than 100 being earned during the Air Force era,” Wilsbach said. “After hearing Skate’s story, his leadership, decisive action and skill in the face of danger, I absolutely believe he deserves this honor.”

Before Parks’ ceremony, only 96 Silver Stars had been awarded to Department of the Air Force personnel. Parks also received the Bronze Star Medal during the event.

The March mission occurred during an eight-month deployment in which Parks and the 480th EFS supported Operations Prosperity Guardian, Inherent Resolve, Spartan Shield and Rough Rider. The operations focused on countering Iranian-backed militants and hostile drone and missile threats across the region.

During that deployment, the squadron recorded 108 aerial victories against enemy drones and land-attack cruise missiles, a modern Air Force record, according to official releases.

Parks is credited with pioneering cost-saving tactics that used AGR-20F rockets, traditionally air-to-ground weapons, in an air-to-air role and prioritized older AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles over newer AIM-9X variants. Those decisions saved more than $25 million and resulted in the first AIM-9M air-to-air kill in 30 years.

Six of the squadron’s 108 shootdowns protected the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and its crew of more than 5,000 sailors.

Parks “personally defended against five deadly surface-to-air missile engagements targeting his aircraft,” the Air Force said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Parks described the emotional whiplash of the mission from the moment he realized how alone he was over hostile territory to the relief of hearing friendly voices on the radio as he escaped the threat ring.

“The loneliness settles in … and then that transitioned very quickly to elation,” he said. As I got a little bit closer, the [command and control] agencies and the Air Force team started picking me up, and my requests of ‘Hey, I need help! We’re out of gas. I need tankers moved.”

Parks said the award carries special meaning because of his family’s deep aviation legacy, which spans World War II, Vietnam and multiple generations of Air Force service.

“It is incredible, and this means a lot,” he said. “The amount of aviation and everything that we have in our family, that’s what shaped me and helped mold me.”