When 15-year-old Shelia Miller climbed into the F-16 simulator at Naval Air Station Fallon (NAS Fallon) this week, she gripped the stick, eased the throttle, and sent the jet rolling into a loop that left her grinning long after she climbed out.
“It was pretty fun,” Miller said. “The F-16s were for sure a lot more interactive … you had all this stuff and like three control panels.” She explained that the simulator’s joystick “only had about a quarter-inch allowance,” but with enough pressure, “you could flip around a little … I did a barrel roll.”
Miller was one of 15 students participating in Fallon’s first Aviation Career Education (ACE) Camp, hosted by the Operation Aviation Foundation and led by Fallon native and fighter pilot Anthony “Judge” Tisdale. The three-day program brought hands-on aviation experiences to local youth ages 12 to 16, culminating in a winging ceremony Wednesday at the Fallon Municipal Airport.
Campers spent the week rotating through flight simulators, touring NAS Fallon, meeting military and civilian air crews, and learning about aviation careers ranging from piloting to aerospace medicine.
Oasis Academy student Stevie Hiskett said the helicopter demonstration was her favorite part.
Photo below: Oasis Academy student Stevie Hiskett meets flight surgeon Joshua Wood during the Operation Aviation Foundation ACE Camp in Fallon.
“I had an amazing time,” she said. “Probably this, or seeing the Care Flight medic team come down.”
One of the most anticipated moments came on the final day, when a Nevada Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter touched down beside the hangar. Students rushed to the edge of the tarmac as the crew stepped out to greet them, answer questions, and pose for photos.
The crew included pilot in command Sergio Zarate, second pilot Colton Marlow, flight medic Mason Burkhart, crew chief and hoist operator Ryan Brown, and flight surgeon Joshua Wood. All spent time talking with students about their roles and how military aviation supports both state and national missions.
Brown, who grew up in Reno, said the visit was about showing young people what aviation service looks like up close.
“This is a great opportunity for us to be out here for the kids to see what we have to offer,” he said. “We’re lucky enough to serve our community, but also the United States.”
Burkhart explained how the crew performs medevac missions and hoist rescues, while Wood described his work handling pilot physicals and aircrew medical readiness. Zarate said the crew was proud to support a program that introduces young people to aviation.
“I’m glad to be out here and show them what we do,” he said.
The camp marks the launch of Nevada’s first chapter of the Operation Aviation Foundation, a nonprofit focused on introducing young people to aviation careers. Tisdale, an Air National Guard fighter pilot, FedEx pilot, and designated pilot examiner, previously ran ACE camps in Alabama. Bringing the program to Fallon, he said, was especially meaningful.
Founder and President Jessica Sanders Walker told families the camp was designed to “engage, explore, and elevate” young people through aviation.
“This was never just about the airplanes; it was about discovering their potential,” she said.
The camp relied on a large network of volunteers, including retired Navy pilots, flight instructors, drone operators, aviation mechanics, and Western Nevada College, which provided simulators and equipment. Local businesses supplied meals, and NAS Fallon opened its facilities for tours and simulator sessions.
Mayor Ken Tedford praised the program for giving students a rare, high-level aviation experience.
“You’ve had a daily experience engaging with world-class professionals like nowhere else in the United States,” he told campers during the ceremony.
As students received their wings and prepared to watch the Black Hawk lift off, many said the camp opened their eyes to new possibilities. Junior helper Cody Frey, who assisted throughout the week, said watching the younger students experience flight reminded him why he volunteers.
“We went out to NAS Fallon and got to fly the F-16 simulators,” he said. “Just a great experience overall.”
For Miller, Hiskett, Frey, and their classmates, the week offered something more than a summer activity — it offered a glimpse of a future in aviation.
Photo below: Junior helper Cody Frey pauses beside a Nevada Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter during the Operation Aviation Foundation ACE Camp at the Fallon Municipal Airport.
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