The Air Force Academy, in conjunction with the Jabara family and the Association of Graduates, established the Colonel James Jabara Award for Airmanship on January 5, 1967.

With 15 kills, Colonel Jabara was the second leading Air Force ace of the Korean War. Colonel Jabara was the First American Jet Ace. Each year the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Association of Graduates present the Colonel James Jabara Award to an Academy graduate or graduates whose airmanship contributions are of great significance and set them apart from their contemporaries.

Each major air command, field operating agency, including the National Guard and Reserve, and direct reporting unit may submit one nomination for the award. The winner of the award is authorized to wear the Air Force Recognition ribbon.

Award Winners:

Colonel Jabara
1968 Capt. Donald D. Stevens, '60
1969 Maj. Terry R. Jorris, '61
1969 1st Lt. Karl W. Richter, '64
1970 Capt. (Ret) Wayne A. Warner, '63
1971 Capt. Neil B. Crist, '66
1972 Capt. Richard S. Ritchie, '64
1973 Capt. Dale E. Stovall, '67
1974 Maj. Robert A. Lodge, '64
1975 Capt. Donald R. Backlund, '71
1975 Capt. Ronald T. Rand, '71
1976 Lt. Col. Michael V. Love, '60
1977 Maj. Roger E. Carleton, '67
1978 Lt. Col. Wayne F. Kendall Jr., '60
1979 Maj. Mart H. Bushnell, '64
1980 Col. Thomas A. LaPlante, '61
1981 Capt. William T. Gillin, '73
1982 Lt. Col. Robert L. Brenci, '63
1983 Col. Karol J. Bobko, '59
1983 Maj. Neal D. Coyle, '72
1984 Capt. Michael P. Davis, '78
1985 Col. James N. Allburn, '63
1986 Maj. Larry E. Faber, '73
1987 Capt. James A. Trinka, '78
1988 Maj. Marc D. Felman, '76
1988 Capt. Thomas M. Ferguson, '81
1989 Lt. Col. Robert H. Schnick, '72
1990 Capt. Francis R. Gabreski, '81
1991 Capt. William F. Andrews, '80
1992 Maj. Corby L. Martin, '80
1993 Maj. Ali C. Frohlich, '80
1994 Lt. Col. James A. Sills, '74
1995 Capt. Harold E. Waters, '85
1996 Lt. Col. Robert P. Donnelly Jr., '77
1997 Lt. Col. David J. Scott, '78
1998 Capt. Daniel E. Flynn, '91
1999 Maj. Peter E. Gersten, '89
2000 Maj. James L. Cardoso, '88
2001 Maj. Julian M. Chesnutt, '89
2002 Maj. Henry C. Thompson, '87
2003 Maj. Leighton T. Anderson Jr., '92
2003 Maj. Edward J. Lengel, '92
2004 Maj. Jason L. Hanover, '92
2005 Lt. Col. Keith Schultz, '79
2006 Maj. John E. Vargas Jr., '96
2008 Capt. Jonathan W. Graham, '99
2009 Capt. Travis A. Burton, '00
2009 Mr. Chesley B. Sullenberger III, '73
2010 Capt. Prichard R. Keely, '04
2011 Capt. Michal P. Polidor, '04
2012 Capt. Joseph A. Hext, '02
2013 Capt. Christopher D. McConnell, '05
2014 Capt. Charles Napier, '06
2015 Capt. Kyle L. Babbitt, '08
2016 Maj. Matthew Kuta, '05
2017 Capt. Brian Guyette, '08
2018 Maj. Marc P. Catalano, '06
2019 Col. Tyler "Nick" Hague, '98
2019 Maj. Caitlin T. Reilly, '07
2020 Capt. Alexander Boules, '15
2021 Maj. J. Cameron Dilts, '10

More information may also be found at the Friends of The Air Force Academy Library website.