The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Lacie E. Hester, United States Air Force, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations against an opposing armed force as F-15E Instructor Weapon Systems Officer, 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, on 13 and 14 April 2024. On those dates, the airmanship and discipline exhibited by Captain Hester ensured the destruction of a mass attack by the Government of Iran on Israel and Coalition Forces. As airborne Mission Commander, Captain Hester took tactical control of a lane of eight F-16 and F-15E aircraft while battle managing a 430 nautical mile area of responsibility. Captain Hester immediately recognized the imminent threat, and without hesitation, began to engage the low-altitude enemy force. In complete darkness and in severe proximity to the ground, she bravely led her four-ship to achieve dozens of kills. Noticing an unprecedented swarm of enemy aircraft remaining, she coordinated for fighter alert launches to bring fresh missiles to the fight. After achieving six air-to-air kills, she returned to base, handling a malfunctioning live AIM-120 missile and coordinated to fly another F-15E into the ongoing air battle. Amidst the base receiving hostile fire, Captain Hester continued to demonstrate incredible bravery by leaving the safety of the bunker as the explosions of base defense launches settled overhead. Hurling herself into a sky full of air interceptors and ballistic missiles, she was airborne again within twenty-five minutes. Captain Hester received direction to snap south and to ignore all near border operations as she intercepted an additional mass wave of enemy low altitude aircraft, exhausting all employment options, including strafe, to achieve two additional aerial kills. Met with a lack of viable weapons, she continued to coordinate for partner forces to engage the remaining threats and directed the final U.S. shoot down. Her unrelenting courage solidified a record-breaking eighty air to air kills, prevented a major theater war, and was lauded by the President of the United States. By her gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Hester reflected great credit upon herself and the United States Air Force.