Lieutenant General (ret) Kirk S. Pierce (Class of 1984) was inducted into the prestigious Victor Central Schools Graduates of Distinction program at the November 13th VCS Board of Education meeting. Prior to his induction, he spent the afternoon meeting with students in the high school.

Upon graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering in 1988, Kirk Pierce dedicated decades to serving his country in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard. Beginning his distinguished career as a fighter pilot, he steadily rose through the ranks. His extensive service took him across the United States and overseas, with tours in South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, as well as key postings at Andrews Air Force Base (AFB) and the Pentagon.

Kirk retired in April 2023 as a highly decorated three-star general, having served in multiple combat situations. He furthered his military education by earning an M.S. in National Security Strategy from the National War College.

Today, Kirk continues to demonstrate leadership in the civilian sector. He is an international airline pilot with United Airlines and manages his own consulting business, RivaONE LLC. He also lends his expertise as a National Security Advisory Board Member for Skydio, a drone manufacturer based in California. Kirk and his wife, Christy, currently reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They have been married for over 30 years and are proud parents to three grown children.

Pierce's nominator, friend, and former classmate, Mark Panus (Class of 1984) said that since graduating from VCS, Kirk has embodied a life of extraordinary leadership, scholarship, and service. "In the Air Force, he commanded at every level, serving in operational assignments for Operations Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Enduring Freedom, and Allies Welcome. As a private citizen, he has volunteered as a coach in various youth sports and has mentored young adults for many years. As a family man, he is a terrific husband and father, a good son, and a loyal friend. I can think of no one more deserving than Kirk for this VCS alumni honor. He truly is a graduate of distinction," Panus said.

About the Honor

The Graduate of Distinction program was established in 2001 to recognize VCS alumni who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and made significant contributions to society. These Victor Central School District alumni achieve distinction through exceptional accomplishment in their school, family, career, community, or personal life.