SIC Names F-16 Fighter Pilot as 2026 Distinguished Alumnus
Years before he started flying at supersonic speeds, Jacob Vaughan was hitting fastballs on the baseball field at Southeastern Illinois College.
This spring, Captain Jacob “Atlas” Vaughan will return to campus not as a student-athlete, but as SIC’s 2026 Distinguished Alumnus and keynote speaker for commencement.
The ceremony will be held Thursday, May 14, at 7 p.m. in the Joseph Deaton Gymnasium. Vaughan, a 2016 graduate, will deliver the keynote address and be recognized for his professional achievement and service.
After earning Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees with honors at SIC, Vaughan transferred to Western Kentucky University before pursuing military aviation. Commissioned through Officer Training School with the United States Air Force in 2018, he quickly distinguished himself throughout pilot training.
During the rigorous F-16 Basic Course, Vaughan was named as the Distinguished Graduate and earned both Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground Top Gun awards. He also received the Red River Valley Fighter Pilot Association Warrior Award — presented to the pilot who best exemplifies the skills and camaraderie needed to be a wingman in combat. Lastly, he was presented the Francis “Gabby” Gabreski Award by the American Fighter Aces Association, recognizing him as the top Fighter Pilot graduate across all U.S. Air Force platforms for 2021.
Vaughan later deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan Shield in 2023, flying 25 combat missions and earning both the Air Medal and the Aerial Achievement Medal. Today, he serves as an F-16 Instructor Pilot with the Indiana Air National Guard, training the next generation of Fighter Pilots.
“Southeastern gave me the opportunity to compete in college athletics, to grow as an individual and to learn how to handle adversity,” Vaughan said. “Graduating is definitely a milestone worth celebrating, but it’s also just the beginning.”
Vaughan credits SIC not only with launching his academic and professional journey, but also with shaping his personal life. He met his wife, Alli, after a math class on campus in 2016, and the couple has navigated moving, deployments and homecomings together.
An Eagle Scout, marathon runner, and scuba diver, Vaughan says the discipline developed through his experiences continues to guide him both in the cockpit and beyond.
“Captain Vaughan’s accomplishments are extraordinary,” said Dr. Karen Weiss, President of Southeastern Illinois College. “From earning Top Gun honors to serving in combat and now mentoring future pilots, he represents perseverance, excellence and service. We are proud to welcome him home to inspire our graduates.”
An Alumni & Friends Lifetime Member, Vaughan has expressed plans to establish a scholarship to support future SIC students.
As he takes the stage May 14, Vaughan says he hopes graduates leave SIC ready to embrace the next challenge — whatever altitude it may reach.
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