New assignment for N.I. native

First Lieutenant David A. “Trey” DeGroat graduated from the U.S. Air Force Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training April 7 in Columbus, Mississippi. He was assigned to serve for a three to four year term at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas assigned to the KC-135R Stratotanker after undergoing a pilot initial qualification coure at Altus AFB, Oklahoma.

DeGroat is the son of Catherine and David DeGroat Jr. and grandson of David and Veronica DeGroat of New Iberia. He graduated from Catholic High School in 2011 and attended the U.S. Air Force Academy where he graduated in 2015 with a degree in civil engineering.

McConnell AFB is one of the few remaining “super” bases left in the U.S. hosing more than 60 KC-135R and RT models. The KC-135 was commissioned in the mid-1950s from the Boeing 707 variant after needing a tanker capable of refueling at higher altitudes and speeds. The KC-135’s primary mission is aerial refueling but also serves cargo and emergency medical evacuation tasking. The Stratotanker is expected to serve beyond 2040.