John "Rain" Waters
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John "Rain" Waters | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Rain |
| Born | Peachtree City, Georgia, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 2007–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands held | F-16 Viper Demonstration Team |
| Battles/wars | Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve |
| Awards |
|
| Other work | Commercial pilot, host of The Afterburn Podcast |
John "Rain" Waters is an American fighter pilot, aviation podcaster, and former commander of the United States Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team. He is the host of The Afterburn Podcast and has accumulated more than 180 combat missions and 4,800+ flying hours. Waters is known for his role in showcasing American airpower at international airshows, including high-profile flyovers at Super Bowl LII and the Indianapolis 500.[1]
Early life and education
Waters was raised in Peachtree City, Georgia. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2007 with a B.S. in International Affairs and later earned an M.S. in Emergency Management from Jacksonville State University.[2]
Military career
After commissioning via ROTC, Waters earned his pilot wings at Columbus Air Force Base and went on to fly the T-6A Texan II, T-38C Talon, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and MC-12W Liberty. He flew over 180 combat missions, accumulating 960+ combat hours in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.[2] [1]
F-16 Viper Demonstration Team
In 2017, Waters was selected as the commander and demo pilot for the USAF F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, representing Air Combat Command.[3] He led the team at over 50 airshow sites across five countries including Colombia, the UAE, and multiple European countries.[4] Waters' demo footage and cockpit videos have been featured in media outlets such as the Air Force Times.[5] The F-16, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024, is one of the most widely used and enduring fighter aircraft in the world, with over 4,600 units delivered to 25+ air forces.[6]
Notable flyovers include Super Bowl LII in 2018,[7] and the Indianapolis 500 in 2019.[8]
Waters was also the first Viper Demo pilot to employ a 360-degree camera in the cockpit, earning wide media coverage for the immersive footage.[9]
The Afterburn Podcast
Waters launched The Afterburn Podcast in 2020. The show features interviews with military pilots, veterans, and national security leaders. Notable guests include Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, General Mike Minihan, General Mark Kelly, General Mike Holmes, and Delta Force operator Brad Thomas. The show has over 4 million audio downloads, and 2 million podcast video views.[2]
Post-military
Waters currently flies the Boeing 777 internationally and serves in the Air Force Reserve. He resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and children.[2]
Awards and decorations
- Air Medal
- Aerial Achievement Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal
- Air Force Achievement Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Meet the Pilot: John "Rain" Waters of the F-16 Viper Demo Team". Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "About". The Afterburn Podcast. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ↑ "F-16 Viper Demonstration Team prepares for upcoming season". F-16.net.
- ↑ "U.S. Air Force participates in 2017 Dubai Airshow". DVIDS.
- ↑ "F-16 demonstration pilot used a cockpit camera during recent show — and the result is stunning". Air Force Times. 2018-07-30.
- ↑ "The F-16 at 50 – Why It's Still in Demand". BBC Future. 20 January 2024.
- ↑ "F-16 Cockpit Video of Super Bowl LII Flyover". Bunker 27.
- ↑ "Bird's Eye View of the Indy 500 Flyover". Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- ↑ "F-16 demonstration pilot used a cockpit camera during recent show — and the result is stunning". Air Force Times. 30 July 2018.
External links
This article "John "Rain" Waters" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.