The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Jay E. Pelka, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as Deputy Director of Operations and Air Force Element Commander, Headquarters, Special Operations Command Central, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, from 10 July 2021 to 31 July 2023. During this period, Colonel Pelka provided astute leadership and was responsible for the guidance, direction, and management of 154 personnel with joint national and international partners, ensuring collaboration between Special Operations Command Central and United States Central Command across twenty-one nations. This close synchronization ensured the cooperation between multiple entities for crisis response, counterterrorism operations, and served to deter or defeat state and non-state aggression. He was instrumental in the stand up, approval, and integration of a 132-member Joint Task Force for Over the Horizon Counterterrorism efforts after the retrograde of forces from Afghanistan. His tireless efforts and coordination guaranteed cohesion between Special Operations Command Central, United States Central Command, and interagency partners, enabling the successful evacuation of over 124,000 personnel from Afghanistan and establishment of an organization to provide oversight of emerging regional threats. Finally, serving in the Deputy Commander forward role, Colonel Pelka led our participation in the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Exercise INVINCIBLE SENTRY 2022, demonstrating all Joint Task Force War Fighting Functions and ensuring required tasks were in accordance with standard operating procedures. His contributions will leave an indelible and enduring impact on United States Special Operations Command and Special Operations Command Central. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Pelka culminate a distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Defense Superior Service Medal
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Distinguished Flying Cross
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Jay E. Pelka, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as MC-130H Combat Talon Il Navigator, Joint Special Operations Air Detachment West, Special Operations Command Central at a classified location on 7 April 2003. On that date, Captain Pelka navigated a two-ship Special Operations Force mission infiltrating 45 members of the elite naval Special Forces into the heart of the heavily defended Iraqi capital city, proving to the world that coalition forces controlled the crown jewel of Iraqi airfields. This bold and audacious mission earned the distinction of the highest risk combat sortie of 350 flown into Iraq by MC-130H aircraft in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. As lead Navigator, Captain Pelka thoroughly analyzed the robust Iraqi order of battle and constructed multi-aircraft low-level ingress and egress flight routes minimizing aircraft exposure to enemy radars and avoiding the most dangerous surface-to-air missile sites. The routes later served as the template for future coalition fixed-wing air operations into Baghdad. During the low-level ingress, the Mission Commander directed the two-ship to delay its arrival by 10 minutes. In order to postpone the landing, he immediately scoured his navigational charts brilliantly creating an impromptu route change and avoiding all known threats, Although hampered by anti-aircraft fire and an SA-6 on approach to the final landing, he led the formation to a flawless turning self-contained approach by threading a needle through the vast array of lethal threats near the airport, all accomplished within two seconds of the planned time of arrival. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Pelka reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Defense Superior Service Medal
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainAction Date:
May 2018 – July 2021
Under the provisions of Department of Defense 1348.33-M, the Secretary of Defense has awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal to for exceptionally superior service to the Department of Defense to Colonel Jay E. Pelka, United States Air Force, for superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility as Chief, Strategy, Plans, and Policy Division, Deputy Directorate for Special Operations and Counterterrorism, Operations Directorate, the Joint Staff, from May 2018 through July 2021. During this period, Colonel Pelka assisted the Deputy Director as the principal staff advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on hostage recovery, special operations, planning and strategy, and counterterrorism operations. He exceptionally supervised a division responsible for global force management initiatives of special operations forces and activities, and secured the Secretary of Defense approval that enabled the successful execution of 197 joint exercises across 68 nations, bolstering the capabilities of both the United States and allied partner forces while furthering National Defense Strategy initiatives. Orchestrating and managing the Joint Staff hostage recovery portfolio, Colonel Pelka worked and coordinated activities with the National Security Council Staff and the inter-agency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, while providing real-time Department of Defense information, intelligence, and situational awareness that enabled crucial senior leader decisions and facilitated the successful recovery and repatriation of 12 American citizens. As the integrator of the Chairman’s Counterterrorism Contingency Response Plan, Colonel Pelka oversaw and coordinated a comprehensive revision and was responsible for its initiation, execution, and synchronization across multiple Combatant Commands; including one event where he conducted 53 continuous hours of duty, coordinating activities that ultimately secured Presidential execution approval that enabled an airstrike to neutralize a high value terrorist target. The distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Pelka reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Air Force, the Joint Staff, and the Department of Defense.