What started out as a spark in middle school has turned into a dream come true for 2016 Becker High School graduate Grant Steffens, as he is currently serving as a pilot in the United States Air Force.
Captain Steffens is a KC-46 A pilot and Squadron Executive Officer for the 32nd Air Refueling Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. In civilian terms, that long title means he skillfully helps with the day-to-day operations of the squadron, while also piloting a huge aircraft filled with fuel that helps to keep fighters, bombers and other aircraft in the air.
“You’re solving a puzzle every time you fly,” Steffens says of his duties. “When we are refueling, it means there are two aircraft flying at 500 miles per hour plus, putting them closer than 20 feet together at the same time and same place without hurting yourself or the other crew.”
All in a days work for the hometown hero, who was a part of the NHS, football and robotics teams in high school.
“Nothing ever goes exactly as planned, and we are constantly re-running the math to ensure everything will work,” Steffens says. “It’s all a matter of precision.”
Upon graduation from high school, Steffens enrolled at the Air Force Academy and began his studies with an eye towards becoming a pilot. He says early on, he knew he wanted to fly the “heavies” - refueling and transport planes - rather than be a fighter pilot. Upon graduating from the Academy, he entered specialized undergraduate pilot training. Eventually, he earned his pilot initial qualification on the KC-46 A Pegasus, a new-generation Boeing plane that is taking the place of the KC-10, a platform that was used for 30 years.
He has been stationed throughout the United States and also has experience abroad, including as part of the Valiant Shield exercise, which is a multinational field training exercise (FTX) that focuses on the integration of U.S. and Allied forces.
Steffens is proud yet humble of many of the things he has already accomplished, including being on the ground floor of flying the new KC-46.
“It’s a continuous process of learning and being able to participate in the establishment of the procedures and processes with flying a new airplane,” Steffens says.
Perhaps his favorite part of his service is in meeting the many different pilots and other personnel that he has established friendships with over the years - many from other parts of the Earth.
“It’s the greatest thing to be able to meet and become close friends with people that I never would have met otherwise,” Steffens says, noting for example a friend he stays in contact with from North Macedonia.
The hardest part of his service?
“Getting used to the tempo of things and switching gears into looking three to six months ahead,” Steffens says. “Time is a finite resource and it’s been challenging learning how to wrangle that.”
While he is flying state-of-the-art airplanes with all of the latest and greatest technology, Steffens says that there are plenty of things to keep him busy and mentally sharp.
“Flying the airplane is the baseline, but every mission presents a different challenge such as managing the fuel status of all the aircraft,” Steffens says. “Our biggest weapon is communication.”
Back in town recently for his Grandpa John Goenner’s birthday party, Steffens says it was fun to reflect upon his adventure from small town guy to frequent traveler.
“I’m stationed at one of the few installations that has all the branches of the service, including the Space Force,” Steffens says.
When called upon, Steffens and his fellow soldiers could be refueling aircraft from any of the branches of the military, or as he puts it: “all receiver capable aircraft from the United States, or our allies and partners.”
Those other pilots will surely have confidence in one of Becker’s finest to get the job done.
Thank you for your service, Captain Steffens. The community is proud of you.
