Zachary Nunn
Representative for Iowa · Republican · United States
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E703] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF MAJOR BRAD ``SLATE'' HOVEY _____…”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E703] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF MAJOR BRAD ``SLATE'' HOVEY _____…”
“Brad was born on March 5, 1991, in Algona, Iowa, and came to Adel in 2001. At Adel Desoto Minburn High School, he did it all--football, track, choir, band, mock trial, drama--and with Adel Troop 152, he earned Scouting's highest rank of Eagle, fixing with him a love of the outdoors he never lost.”
“Brad was born on March 5, 1991, in Algona, Iowa, and came to Adel in 2001. At Adel Desoto Minburn High School, he did it all--football, track, choir, band, mock trial, drama--and with Adel Troop 152, he earned Scouting's highest rank of Eagle, fixing with him a love of the outdoors he never lost.”
“Through 12 years of service, Brad served as a B-52 and B-1 bomber pilot, completing three combat deployments and flying over 200 combat hours across 20 combat sorties.”
“Through 12 years of service, Brad served as a B-52 and B-1 bomber pilot, completing three combat deployments and flying over 200 combat hours across 20 combat sorties.”
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Every one of 24 lines we hold for Zachary Nunn, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account.
“Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Major Brad ``Slate'' Hovey--a devoted husband, a loving father, a distinguished Airman, and a proud Iowan--and in keeping his family and the families of all eight Americans lost that day in our prayers. Iowa will remember their sacrifice. ____________________”
“Speaker, as a 20-year Air Force Veteran, I know I speak for my fellow airmen when I say that the flight test is some of the hardest and least recognized work we do. On the morning of June 15, 2026, Brad took a sixty-year-old bomber into the sky with a new radar on it so the crews who fly it next would know it worked. He did that without fanfare and with mission first. He is survived by his wife, Megan, and their two children; his parents, Kent and Sondra; and his brothers, Lane and Kyle, who will remember him for his love of the stars and the sky, his devoted service to his Nation, and, most of all, the way he loved them. Mr.”
“Through 12 years of service, Brad served as a B-52 and B-1 bomber pilot, completing three combat deployments and flying over 200 combat hours across 20 combat sorties. In 2022, Brad and Megan moved their family to Edwards, where he was selected for the United States Air Force Test Pilot School with Class 23A--one of the most demanding schools in American aviation. With the 419th Flight Test Squadron, Brad flew B-52 and B-1 test missions to ensure the next crew in the cockpit had safe, lethal and combat-ready equipment ready to fly in defense of our Nation. Over the course of his career, Brad logged more than 1,890 total flight hours and over 350 sorties across 29 distinct airframes. Mr.”
“Brad was born on March 5, 1991, in Algona, Iowa, and came to Adel in 2001. At Adel Desoto Minburn High School, he did it all--football, track, choir, band, mock trial, drama--and with Adel Troop 152, he earned Scouting's highest rank of Eagle, fixing with him a love of the outdoors he never lost. Adel is also where Brad met his wife, Megan, in the ninth-grade band. They married in 2012. Brad's love of airplanes led him to Iowa State University, where he studied aerospace engineering and served in the Air Force ROTC with Detachment 250. After graduating in 2014, he was commissioned by his own father-in-law--a fitting start for a man who never drew a line between family and service. He earned his wings in 2015.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E703] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF MAJOR BRAD ``SLATE'' HOVEY ______ HON. ZACHARY NUNN of iowa in the house of representatives Monday, July 20, 2026 Mr. NUNN of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Major Brad ``Slate'' Hovey of Adel, Iowa, who was killed on June 15, 2026, when his B-52 crashed on takeoff during a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Seven fellow airmen were lost with him. Brad was 35 years old. His family says his life was woven with threads of bravery, integrity, and service--inspiring all who knew and loved him.”
“Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Major Brad ``Slate'' Hovey--a devoted husband, a loving father, a distinguished Airman, and a proud Iowan--and in keeping his family and the families of all eight Americans lost that day in our prayers. Iowa will remember their sacrifice. ____________________”
“Speaker, as a 20-year Air Force Veteran, I know I speak for my fellow airmen when I say that the flight test is some of the hardest and least recognized work we do. On the morning of June 15, 2026, Brad took a sixty-year-old bomber into the sky with a new radar on it so the crews who fly it next would know it worked. He did that without fanfare and with mission first. He is survived by his wife, Megan, and their two children; his parents, Kent and Sondra; and his brothers, Lane and Kyle, who will remember him for his love of the stars and the sky, his devoted service to his Nation, and, most of all, the way he loved them. Mr.”
“Through 12 years of service, Brad served as a B-52 and B-1 bomber pilot, completing three combat deployments and flying over 200 combat hours across 20 combat sorties. In 2022, Brad and Megan moved their family to Edwards, where he was selected for the United States Air Force Test Pilot School with Class 23A--one of the most demanding schools in American aviation. With the 419th Flight Test Squadron, Brad flew B-52 and B-1 test missions to ensure the next crew in the cockpit had safe, lethal and combat-ready equipment ready to fly in defense of our Nation. Over the course of his career, Brad logged more than 1,890 total flight hours and over 350 sorties across 29 distinct airframes. Mr.”
“Brad was born on March 5, 1991, in Algona, Iowa, and came to Adel in 2001. At Adel Desoto Minburn High School, he did it all--football, track, choir, band, mock trial, drama--and with Adel Troop 152, he earned Scouting's highest rank of Eagle, fixing with him a love of the outdoors he never lost. Adel is also where Brad met his wife, Megan, in the ninth-grade band. They married in 2012. Brad's love of airplanes led him to Iowa State University, where he studied aerospace engineering and served in the Air Force ROTC with Detachment 250. After graduating in 2014, he was commissioned by his own father-in-law--a fitting start for a man who never drew a line between family and service. He earned his wings in 2015.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E703] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF MAJOR BRAD ``SLATE'' HOVEY ______ HON. ZACHARY NUNN of iowa in the house of representatives Monday, July 20, 2026 Mr. NUNN of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Major Brad ``Slate'' Hovey of Adel, Iowa, who was killed on June 15, 2026, when his B-52 crashed on takeoff during a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Seven fellow airmen were lost with him. Brad was 35 years old. His family says his life was woven with threads of bravery, integrity, and service--inspiring all who knew and loved him.”
“At Headquarters Air Combat Command, he became the Air Force's first Airborne ISR Evaluator, building the evaluation standards that still shape how enlisted aircrew are trained today. Ask anyone who served with Omar, and you'll hear the same thing: he invested in younger Airmen, he led by example, and he left every unit stronger than he found it. That is the truest measure of any career, and Omar met it every single day. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Master Sergeant Omar J. Hunt for his extraordinary service to our Nation, and in wishing him and his family every success in the years ahead. ____________________”
“Omar's work supported critical airborne operations, special operations forces, and national-level intelligence missions. Over his career, Omar logged more than 3,400 flight hours, over 1,750 of them in combat, flying across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East in defense of our Nation and our allies. I had the privilege of serving alongside Omar on several of those missions, taking off from RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom for missions high above the mountains of Afghanistan. In every assignment and on every mission, Omar conducted himself to the highest standards of leadership and effectiveness that we Airmen pride ourselves on. When a mission grew tense, his was the calm the whole crew leaned on--always steady and dependable. That same standard carried into every leadership role Omar held.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E680] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF THE MASTER SERGEANT OMAR J. HUNT ______ HON. ZACHARY NUNN of iowa in the house of representatives Tuesday, July 14, 2026 Mr. NUNN of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Master Sergeant Omar J. Hunt as he retires after more than two decades of service to our Nation in the United States Air Force. In that time, he became one of the Air Force's most trusted Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance professionals--entrusted with some of the most demanding missions our Nation asks of anyone in uniform.”
“At Headquarters Air Combat Command, he became the Air Force's first Airborne ISR Evaluator, building the evaluation standards that still shape how enlisted aircrew are trained today. Ask anyone who served with Omar, and you'll hear the same thing: he invested in younger Airmen, he led by example, and he left every unit stronger than he found it. That is the truest measure of any career, and Omar met it every single day. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Master Sergeant Omar J. Hunt for his extraordinary service to our Nation, and in wishing him and his family every success in the years ahead. ____________________”
“Omar's work supported critical airborne operations, special operations forces, and national-level intelligence missions. Over his career, Omar logged more than 3,400 flight hours, over 1,750 of them in combat, flying across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East in defense of our Nation and our allies. I had the privilege of serving alongside Omar on several of those missions, taking off from RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom for missions high above the mountains of Afghanistan. In every assignment and on every mission, Omar conducted himself to the highest standards of leadership and effectiveness that we Airmen pride ourselves on. When a mission grew tense, his was the calm the whole crew leaned on--always steady and dependable. That same standard carried into every leadership role Omar held.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E680] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF THE MASTER SERGEANT OMAR J. HUNT ______ HON. ZACHARY NUNN of iowa in the house of representatives Tuesday, July 14, 2026 Mr. NUNN of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Master Sergeant Omar J. Hunt as he retires after more than two decades of service to our Nation in the United States Air Force. In that time, he became one of the Air Force's most trusted Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance professionals--entrusted with some of the most demanding missions our Nation asks of anyone in uniform.”
“He is survived by his wife Katie, and their daughters, Sophie and Charlotte, who remain in our thoughts and our prayers. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring President Jay Byers. ____________________”
“He understood intuitively how to unite business leaders, educators, and policymakers around a common vision, always driven by our shared goal to make Iowa a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Although Jay spent much of his professional life expanding opportunities for Iowa businesses, he never left the Simpson College community. He served on the Board of Trustees for 11 years before returning to education full-time in 2023 as the 25th president of Simpson College, where he kindled a sense of pride and community that led the college to its largest freshman class in more than a decade. Mr. Speaker, President Byers' passion was building a stronger, more connected, and brighter Iowa and that legacy will endure far beyond his years of committed service.”
“He earned his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law before beginning his career serving the people of Iowa's 3rd district as a staff member for former Congressman Leonard Boswell. I came to know Jay during his time at the helm of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, where he spent more than a decade building one of the most respected economic development organizations in the country. Under his leadership, the Partnership gained national recognition, growing to include 24 affiliate chambers, more than 6,500 members, and thousands of businesses across central Iowa. I saw President Byers' leadership and commitment firsthand while I served in the Iowa Statehouse.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E365] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF JAY BYERS ______ HON. ZACHARY NUNN of iowa in the house of representatives Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Mr. NUNN of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of President Jay Byers, a true servant leader, devoted father and husband, and proud Iowan whose lifelong commitment to our state inspired all who had the privilege of working with him. President Byers was a graduate of Manson High School and a proud member of the Simpson College Class of 1993.”
“He is survived by his wife Katie, and their daughters, Sophie and Charlotte, who remain in our thoughts and our prayers. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring President Jay Byers. ____________________”
“He understood intuitively how to unite business leaders, educators, and policymakers around a common vision, always driven by our shared goal to make Iowa a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Although Jay spent much of his professional life expanding opportunities for Iowa businesses, he never left the Simpson College community. He served on the Board of Trustees for 11 years before returning to education full-time in 2023 as the 25th president of Simpson College, where he kindled a sense of pride and community that led the college to its largest freshman class in more than a decade. Mr. Speaker, President Byers' passion was building a stronger, more connected, and brighter Iowa and that legacy will endure far beyond his years of committed service.”
“He earned his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law before beginning his career serving the people of Iowa's 3rd district as a staff member for former Congressman Leonard Boswell. I came to know Jay during his time at the helm of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, where he spent more than a decade building one of the most respected economic development organizations in the country. Under his leadership, the Partnership gained national recognition, growing to include 24 affiliate chambers, more than 6,500 members, and thousands of businesses across central Iowa. I saw President Byers' leadership and commitment firsthand while I served in the Iowa Statehouse.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E365] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF JAY BYERS ______ HON. ZACHARY NUNN of iowa in the house of representatives Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Mr. NUNN of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of President Jay Byers, a true servant leader, devoted father and husband, and proud Iowan whose lifelong commitment to our state inspired all who had the privilege of working with him. President Byers was a graduate of Manson High School and a proud member of the Simpson College Class of 1993.”