News & Announcements
New heights: St. Luke’s nurse leader takes part in special flight with Air Force’s Thunderbirds
Kelly McCormick, in her flight suit, prepares to enter the cockpit of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
By Dave SouthornLast Updated May 28, 2026
One word: epic.
It’s the first that comes to mind for Kelly McCormick when she thinks about a once-in-a-lifetime experience she had May 15.
McCormick, associate chief nursing officer at St. Luke’s Elmore, was selected to fly with the United States Air Force’s Thunderbirds at the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base as their “Hometown Hero.”
“It was really awesome, it felt natural,” McCormick said. “I felt we were steady and strong … obviously something really special.”
According to the Air Force, “the Hometown Hero Program recognizes exceptional individuals from local communities who exemplify service, sacrifice, and dedication.”
Domineek Haag, a friend of McCormick’s who is a liaison for the MHAFB and the school district, nominated her. Two days after she found out she was selected, she was being fitted for a flight suit and was readying to hit the skies with Maj. Samuel Larson at the controls.
Maj. Sam Larson, who piloted the flight, presents Kelly McCormick with a recognition for her selection as a “Hometown Hero.”
McCormick’s husband, Rob, and their son, JP, were able to get a behind-the-scenes look alongside her, sitting in on the preflight briefing and checking out the planes.
“We got to fly down by the Snake River, like really low,” McCormick said. “And we took off straight up into the air and went straight upside down. Then he took off over towards the river. We did some barrel rolls … got to go up high and see the show from above. That flight suit squeezed the heck out of me. But it was awesome.”
Since joining the St. Luke’s Elmore team in 2021, McCormick has made a big impact. She has progressed into her current role, designated for someone who has even further leadership potential.
“I think it’s her ability to execute, her ability … to advocate for frontline staff, how to make it best for them,” said Lisa Melchiorre, St. Luke’s Elmore chief operations and nursing officer. “Kelly’s very big on accountability and being fair, doing things very consistently for the staff so she’s predictable. You want to know what to expect from a leader day in, day out and you get that with her.”
As well-prepared as she is, nothing could perfectly ready McCormick for the experience of flying in an F-16 at 500 mph over the place she calls home, but the Air Force is connected strongly with her family.
Her husband, Rob, served in the Air Force for 26 years, retiring three years ago.
Their family has moved from Florida to New Mexico to Georgia to England to Virginia, back to New Mexico and finally to Mountain Home. And there, well, they found home, as McCormick and her husband have also been strongly involved in the community with their three children, including as coaches for youth and high school athletes.
“We enjoyed our time when he was stationed (at MHAFB) and when he retired, we considered other places, but one day we were at a homecoming parade that went right through town and thought, ‘Not many places are like this anymore,’” McCormick said.
And it has been a great move for the family, as McCormick joined St. Luke’s as a charge nurse, became a manager a year later and was promoted to her current role in February.
