MacDill mourns the loss of three Airmen

Major John “Alex” Klinner was the Chief of Squadron Standardizations and Evaluations at the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Birmingham, Alabama. He directed the unit’s Standardization and Evaluation program, ensuring 34 aircrew maintained required proficiency, safety, and compliance with directives as an evaluator pilot. He supported global air refueling operations and integrated guard, reserve, and active duty support to Air Mobility Command. Major Klinner entered the Air Force in 2017 through Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps from Auburn University. He completed pilot training in November 2018, and was assigned to the 92nd Air Refueling Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. He completed advanced instrument training and instructor pilot upgrade in 2022, followed by evaluator pilot upgrade in 2024 while assigned to the 99th Air Refueling Squadron in Birmingham, Alabama. Major Klinner deployed in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2026 in support of United States Air Forces in Europe, United States Central Command, and United States Southern Command supporting Operations INHERENT RESOLVE, ATLAS GUARDIAN, SOUTHERN SPEAR and EPIC FURY, flying 362 combat hours and 181 combat support hours in theater.