Captain Esther Coblentz, assigned to the 374th Operations Group and the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan, is a C-130J Aircraft Commander in the 36th Airlift Squadron, the sole US tactical airlift squadron in the Pacific theatre.  Captain Coblentz may be a young officer, but her performance and impact firmly establish her as both a standout leader and a trusted pilot.

Captain Coblentz’s strong airmanship led her to being hand-selected to brief the US ambassador to Bangladesh and Bangladeshi general officers on aviation crew resource management. This engagement was instrumental in driving operational risk management updates and elevating flight-safety culture across the Bangladesh Air Force. Her leadership was further demonstrated when she spearheaded the historic operation that successfully landed the first US C-130J at a small airstrip in Indonesia during ‘Operation Super Garuda Shield’, a multinational joint exercise designed to enhance readiness and interoperability between partner nations. Her efforts not only certified the airfield but also opened access for other aircraft to the area, helping to build a more stable region. Moreover, Captain Coblentz led a 12-person team to Palau to conduct a critical airfield pavement evaluation. Her direct guidance was essential in securing an additional twelve years of flying operations, enabling the continued viability of this strategic location, and ultimately preserving key logistical capabilities across the Indo-Pacific region.

Her meticulous planning was pivotal in the success of ‘Operation Pacific Angel’s’ capstone mission, where Captain Coblentz planned and executed a complex dissimilar-aircraft, bilateral aeromedical evacuation exercise with a foreign partner, resulting in the disaster response certification of 103 partner Airmen. Additionally, she was chosen to lead the mission planning cell for a mission in PACAF’s premier combat simulation exercise, ‘Red Flag Alaska 25-2’. In this role, Captain Coblentz carefully synchronized four aircraft – integrating a US Special Operations Command aircraft and an allied nation’s aircraft – which directly enabled the certification of multiple PACAF fighter flight leads.

Beyond her operational achievements, Captain Coblentz has excelled in roles demanding exemplary professionalism and sound judgement. As Protocol Officer for the US Department of War's longest-running humanitarian airlift operation, ‘Christmas Drop’, she skilfully directed the movement of 33 multinational distinguished visitors. She aligned multi-agency support to deliver seamless senior-leader engagements that reinforced strategic partnerships, an effort that facilitated the five participating nations’ ability to airdrop 75,500 pounds of aid to 42,000 islanders. Furthermore, Captain Coblentz orchestrated a C-130J static display at her home station for the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force and US Forces Japan spouse cultural exchange tour for 25 spouses. Her expertise and professionalism fostered community cohesion and connected the families to the aviation mission they support.

Though a young aviator, Captain Coblentz consistently demonstrates a high level of leadership and professionalism, and her actions leave a positive impact on every mission she undertakes, making her a most fitting recipient of the Grand Master’s Medal.

1962/63  M P Glegg Esq

1963/64  D A Martin Esq

196465  T A Henderson Esq

1965/66  P G Hadgett Esq

196667  J W D Robertson Esq

196768  R J Barbour Esq

1968/69  A J E Tiley Esq

1969/70  C Redrupp Esq

1970/71  R G P Taylor Esq

1971/72  D Smethurst Esq

1972/73  G G Leask Esq

1973/74  J F Rothwell Esq

1974/75  G J Bressey Esq

1975/76  J F Nash Esq

1976/77  M J Thrower Esq

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1992/93  M D W Bowker Esq

1993/94  R Ka Fuk Cheung Esq

1994/95  W S Gilmour Esq

1995/96  Jamal Jamal Mohammed Jamal

1996/97  Matthew J Clatworthy Esq

1997/98  Emma Joanne Phelps

1998/99  Captain W I E Anderson

1999/2000  Pilot Ofiicer J S Clayton

2000/01  Nicholas Chan

2001/02  Flt Lt Nicola Thomas

2002/03  Daniel Fonseca MEng (Hons) GradRAeS

2003/04  Philip Gareth Donovan

2004/05  Peter Charles Edward Nye

2006 - 2010  not awarded

2010/11  awarded twice:
       Isabelle de Montet-Guerin
       Capt Robert Shoenberg USAF

2012 - 2014  not awarded

2014/15  Flt Lt Christopher Gonzalez RAF 

2016  Flt Lt Colin Bostrom MSc RAF

2017  Captain Matthew A Shipp USAF

2018  Captain Alexander Horrell USAF

2019  Aaron Keith Pearce

2020  TSgt Zane Romick USAF

2021  Flt Lt Ryan Stowe RAF

2022  Travis Ludlow

2023  First Lieutenant Andrew H Merkley USAF

2024  not awarded

2026  Lance Bombardier Pennie Rumsby-Ferris