An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

'1000s of Hands' Project: F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot Capt. Dakota Olsen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Cierra Presentado
  • 455th AEW Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Capt. Dakota Olsen, 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, is an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot who provides close air support and armed over watch for military personnel in Afghanistan.

Olsen flies various sorties and missions throughout the country on a daily basis, delivering airpower to ensure a safe and secure environment for personnel at BAF.

“We provide a distinct advantage to the guys outside the wire by having that armed over watch; we provide them with munitions when they need it. Overall we help them fight their fight and make sure they return home safely,” Olsen said. “At the end of the day, our biggest impact is to save lives and protect our troops and allies and support a stable Afghanistan.”

Olsen is part of the “1000s of Hands” of 455 AEW Airmen who are crucial to the wing’s mission to generate and sustain airpower on the combat frontier of Afghanistan’s NATO’s Resolute Support mission and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. The “1000s of Hands” project highlights Vulture Airmen who have a hand in delivering a blanket of steel, technology and courage to protect the force in the field and support Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.