DOJO — An Air Force F-16 commander who spent more than 15 minutes dodging missiles deep inside hostile territory has been awarded the Silver Star for extraordinary valor during a dangerous mission over Yemen. Lt. Col. William “Skate” Parks received the nation’s third-highest combat honor during a ceremony at the Pentagon, recognizing his leadership, decisive action and refusal to abandon his wingmen during a strike operation earlier this year.
What happened?
On March 27, Parks was the mission commander for a 21-aircraft strike package targeting ballistic-missile production sites operated by Houthi forces in the region. Leading a four-ship formation of F-16s assigned to Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), he took his jets directly into one of the most heavily defended air-defense rings of the conflict.
According to the Air Force, Parks deliberately placed his formation inside the Yemeni capital’s threat envelope to draw fire away from the strike aircraft. That decision triggered an intense wave of enemy engagement as missile batteries and anti-aircraft guns fired repeatedly at the F-16s.
For 15 minutes, Parks and his pilots evaded a “precisely targeted” barrage of radar-guided missiles and anti-aircraft fire. One missile detonated only a few feet from his aircraft. Despite the high-G maneuvers, countermeasures and constant threat of impact, Parks remained in command of the entire strike group while coordinating deconfliction, timing and target suppression.
How he saved his flight
The danger did not end once the missile barrage stopped. Parks’ aircraft—and the formation he was responsible for—were critically low on fuel while still deep inside enemy territory. He immediately coordinated an emergency rendezvous with two aerial tankers, a move the Air Force says likely prevented the loss of two F-16s due to fuel starvation.
The Silver Star citation states that Parks’ “courageous and steadfast actions directly contributed to the survival of his wingman and himself.”
Why the honor is rare
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach, who presented the medal, noted the rarity of the award.
“It’s a rare day when someone earns a Silver Star,” he said, pointing out that fewer than 100 have been issued during the Air Force era.
Parks was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during the deployment.
Record-breaking deployment
The March mission was part of an eight-month rotation in which Parks and the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron supported multiple operations across the Middle East, including Prosperity Guardian, Inherent Resolve, Spartan Shield, and Operation Rough Rider, the Trump administration’s campaign countering Iranian-backed militants and Houthi missile threats.
During the deployment:
- The squadron recorded 108 aerial victories against drones and cruise missiles — a modern Air Force record.
- Parks personally logged six air-to-air kills, protecting the USS Harry S. Truman and its crew of more than 5,000 sailors.
- He helped pioneer a cost-saving tactic using AGR-20F laser-guided rockets in air-to-air engagements, saving more than $25 million in munitions.
Parks on the moment he thought he wouldn’t make it home
Parks described the emotional shift he felt while alone over hostile territory.
“The loneliness settles in,” he said, recalling the moment he realized how isolated he was while under fire. “Then that transitioned very quickly to elation as friendly voices came back over the radio. I said, ‘I need help, we’re out of gas, I need tankers moved,’ and the team started picking me up.”
A family of aviators
Parks’ career is rooted in a deep family aviation legacy:
his father was an Air Force test pilot, his uncle flew as an F-111 weapons officer, his cousin flies KC-135 and C-17 aircraft, and his brother serves as a C-146 Wolfhound pilot.
“This means a lot,” Parks said. “Everything I am was shaped by the aviation in my family.”
