Wylie East JROTC Cadets Inspired by Alumna and Air Force Leader Lt. Col. Kimber “Lone Star” Nettis

AFJROTC students didn’t just hear about Air Force leadership; they heard it from someone who once stood exactly where they stand today. Lt. Col. Kimber “Lone Star” Nettis returned to Wylie ISD to speak with cadets at Wylie East about how discipline, courage, and mentorship helped chart her course in the U.S. Air Force.

Lt. Col. Nettis, a former Wylie High AFJROTC cadet, inspired the next generation of leaders to follow their own flight paths as she shared her journey from student to senior Air Force leader.

A 2003 Wylie High School graduate, Nettis is now serving as Commander of the Air & Space Force ROTC Detachment 810 at Baylor University, where she made history as the first female to serve as the detachment's commander since its creation in 1948.

“She was a hero before she graduated high school,” said WEHS JROTC instructor Col. Brooks McFarland, USAF (Ret.).

Nettis began her presentation reflecting back on the summer before her senior year at Wylie High. She took quick action on a trip to church camp when her bus collided with a bridge support. The collision took the lives of the bus driver and four of her friends.

“I know for a fact God saved my life because I felt his hand on my head,” Nettis said. “I smelled diesel fuel, and I thought the bus was going to explode. I got out of the wreck and saw my friends in various states. I started pulling them to the side to save as many as I could.”

Because of her heroic efforts, her AFJROTC commander at Wylie High, Col. Wayne Wilbanks, nominated her for the Air Force Junior ROTC Gold Valor Award, the highest honor a cadet can receive nationwide.

“To be eligible for the honor, a cadet has to have put their life at risk to save someone else’s,” Col. Wilbanks said.

Nettis remains the only recipient of the award in Wylie ISD history. The award recognized her extraordinary bravery and self-sacrifice after she helped rescue fellow students following the devastating bus accident.

“I first heard about the accident when I saw it on TV,” Col. Wilbanks said. “The bus was peeled back like a tuna can, and she quickly stepped into action. I remember the news reporter asking her how a 17-year-old girl knew what to do, and she said she had just learned at ROTC camp that a leader has to know when to step up and take charge. I felt like a proud papa.”

A four-star general later visited Wylie High School to personally present Nettis with the Gold Valor Award at an all-school assembly.

“I picked him up from the airport and had the chance to talk to him about how outstanding she really is,” Wilbanks said. “The General invited her to Baylor to interview for a scholarship. I took her to Waco, and she got it, a full-ride scholarship. Her counselor at Wylie High got her on as an RA [Resident Advisor], so she got a dorm and food for free, too. She walked out of Baylor as a top grad, debt-free.”

During her visit with Wylie East AFJROTC classes, Nettis reflected on the mentors who shaped her path, especially Col. Wilbanks. He started the JROTC program at Wylie High School and later helped establish the program at Wylie East when the campus opened in 2007.

“He was absolutely vital to me,” Nettis said. “The only reason I joined this program [AFJROTC] was because I knew it counted for a speech credit. I was incredibly shy and was terrified of having to give a speech. When Col. Wilbanks made me a flight commander, I had to give a speech every single day!”

Now a seasoned Air Force officer, Nettis spoke candidly with cadets about military life, leadership, and opportunity. She discussed her deployments to Iraq and Qatar, witnessing the first democratic election in Iraq, traveling the world, and even meeting entertainers through the USO.

She also highlighted the benefits of military service, including a deep sense of camaraderie and belonging.

“You don’t just have coworkers,” Nettis said. “You have family.”

She encouraged cadets to lead by example, reminding them that leadership starts with personal accountability.

“If you don’t lead yourself well, you will not lead others well,” she said. “As cadets, you are ambassadors for your school.”

During the visit, Nettis presented her signature Lone Star challenge coin to Wylie East senior Ciaira Bales, Corps Commander, recognizing her leadership and commitment.

“It was a really big honor receiving the challenge coin, especially from her,” Bales said. “She’s a legend around here.”

Bales added that hearing from Nettis reinforced the importance of making strong choices early on in life.

“What you do when you are younger definitely matters to who you become,” Bales said.

Senior Gavan Headley, Deputy Corps Commander, said Nettis’ presentation reshaped his view of leadership.

“Leadership is more than telling people what to do,” Headley said. “It’s about building a family and helping that family become a cohesive group.”

What could have derailed Nettis’ future instead became a defining chapter in her story.

“The real story here is how when bad things happen, good things can come from them,” Col. Wilbanks said. “After that horrific accident, she could have taken a different path.”

From Wylie ISD classrooms to Air Force leadership at Baylor University, Lt. Col. Kimber “Lone Star” Nettis’ journey is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of education, mentorship, and service, making this visit a moment the Wylie East AFJROTC cadets won’t soon forget.