28-year-old pilot from Palm Bay killed in incident

A 28-year-old pilot from Palm Bay who was honored for his role in the country's ongoing war against Islamic State has been killed in a non-combat incident, the U.S. Department of Defense announced over the weekend.

Defense Department officials said Staff Sgt. Tristen Wright died Aug. 15 at an undisclosed location.

Wright, who has received awards including a U.S. Air and Space Force Commendation and a Global War on Terrorism Medal, joined the Air Force in August 2016.

Wright was born on 27.^th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron (SOLRS) near Clovis, NM, and was deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, according to a statement from officials at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. He previously served with the 18^th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan until 2019, when he was assigned to his new assignment.