What does it take to shake hands with JD Vance? Just ask Quade Filippini.
Quade Filippini, a 2022 graduate of Eureka County High School, graduated from the Air Force Academy on May 28, 2026, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in history and the privilege of being congratulated by the vice president of the United States. That extraordinary moment was the culmination of more than six years of determination, discipline, and hard work.
Quade’s path toward pilot training began during his junior year of high school. While the world was still shut down because of COVID-19, he was busy researching how to earn acceptance into a military academy. He spent much of that year learning the process, preparing applications, and pushing himself to get physically fit. By the end of 11th grade, he was fully committed to pursuing a military academy appointment. His senior year was filled with applications, essays, letters of recommendation, and requests for congressional nominations from Nevada’s congressional delegation.
Without a military background, Quade knew he needed to be in top physical condition. Ranch work had already taught him the value of hard labor, but he pushed himself further through strength training and sports. His efforts paid off with nominations from Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, and Rep. Mark Amodei for West Point, the Merchant Marine Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy.
Then, just before his scheduled physical fitness exam, Quade broke his wrist. The timing could not have been worse. Although the military allowed him to delay the test, he worried the setback might hurt his chances of receiving nominations. Still, he stayed in close contact with recruiters and representatives, refusing to let the injury derail his goals. He was accepted to the Merchant Marine Academy and waitlisted at the Coast Guard Academy. Finally, just before high school graduation, he received official word that he had been accepted to the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA).
Academy life, Quade says, was great. USAFA is highly structured, focusing on three key elements: academics, military training, and physical fitness. Cadets quickly learn responsibility, discipline, and resilience. Personal time is a luxury, especially during freshman year, when cadets must wear their uniforms at all times, even off campus (except when skiing), and attend all football games and training events. As they progress through the program, they learn leadership and accountability by being assigned to supervise underclassmen and earning more personal freedom.
During his time at the Academy, Quade enjoyed frequent flyovers and feels fortunate to have seen every aircraft in the U.S. Air Force overhead. He most enjoyed football games against Navy and Army. His training took him as far as Guam, where he participated in specialty courses. He was tased, chased by dogs, and took part in simunition exercises—training experiences he now recalls with a mix of pride and humor.
He is grateful for his experiences at the Academy, realizing that the best friendships he has ever had were formed through their shared experiences. On campus, Quade saw numerous government dignitaries, including the secretary of defense, the secretary of the Air Force, and President Joe Biden. But nothing topped graduation day, when he shook hands with Vice President JD Vance beneath one of the most spectacular flyovers he had ever witnessed.
Prior to graduation, Quade learned he had been accepted into flight school, the goal he had worked toward from the beginning. Second Lt. Quade Filippini is now stationed in Enid, Oklahoma, where he will spend the next three years in flight training. He will fly T-38 jets and bombers, and he hopes to also train on the T-6 Texan.
Quade is proud of his time at the Air Force Academy. He has a 10-year military commitment ahead of him, but he is ready to soar: through training, through service, and through the career he has worked so hard to build as a proud officer in the United States Air Force.
