Alumna named U.S. Air Force Cadet of the Year

Graduating near the top of her class from the University’s School of Nursing, Kailey Filter left campus as one of the most decorated Air Force ROTC cadets in the country. Earlier this month, the second lieutenant was named U.S.A.F. Cadet of the Year, an unrivaled honor in the field, said Lt. Col. Richard Sanders, commander of the AFROTC detachment at UNC Charlotte.

“This is absolutely the highest award given to an Air Force cadet. Out of over 16,000 AFROTC and U.S. Air Force Academy cadets, 2nd Lt. Filter was chosen as the best of the best by the Air Force Chief of Staff,” Sanders said.

Filter learned of the award as she transitioned into her career. She recently started a job as a medical-surgical unit nurse at Travis Air Force Base in California.

As she trained to be a nurse in the armed services, Filter’s ability to do many different things well at once may be what most set her time at UNC Charlotte apart.

Kelly Powers, assistant professor of nursing in the College of Health and Human Services, taught Filter and was her clinical rotation supervisor. She called the cadet’s ability to balance commitments “amazing.” Powers stated Filter excelled in the classroom and with patients.

“She is knowledgeable, skilled, and compassionate,” said Powers. “Kailey’s future patients and their families will be lucky to have her, as will the nurses and other interdisciplinary team members who get to work alongside her.”

Read more about Filter, who also was named the Southeast’s top Air Force trainee earlier this year.