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Lt. Col. Peter Byrne received the Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy in ceremonies at the Pentagon on 5 June for safely landing his F-16 despite suffering a stroke. During tactical maneuvering from Buckley AFB, Colorado, in June 2006, Byrne's vertebral artery dissected and stopped blood flow to his brain. This condition caused severe vertigo and loss of visual acuity and loss of fine motor skills. Despite his condition, Byrne successfully flew for ninety minutes before safely landing at Buckley. His decisive actions and ability to cope with such a traumatic event prevented a potentially catastrophic mishap. The Kolligian Trophy, presented since 1958, is the Air Force's only individual annual safety award. The trophy was presented by Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John D. Corley.
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