Miroslav Zilberman

Miroslav "Steven" Zilberman (20 February 1979 – 31 March 2010) was a United States Navy officer who posthumously received the Distinguished Flying Cross for saving the lives of three fellow pilots during an airplane crash in 2010.

Early life and education
Miroslav Zilberman was born to Anna Sokolov and Boris Zilberman in Kiev, Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union (USSR). After the Chernobyl disaster, his parents, like many other Jewish families, decided to emigrate from the USSR.

In 1991 they arrived in the United States, settling in the city of Columbus, Ohio. Zilberman studied there in elementary and middle schools, and graduated in 1997 from Bexley High School, immediately enlisting in the United States Navy. He was accepted into the Navy's elite enlisted nuclear power program, graduating from a technical program with an 80 percent attrition rate with only a high school diploma. In July 2000, Zilberman enrolled at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, where he received a bachelor's degree in computer science in 2003.

Zilberman was married in 1998 and had two children, a son in 2006 and a daughter in 2008.

Career
After graduating from Rensselaer, he was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy Reserve and began his aviation training. In 2005, Zilberman was assigned to the World-Famous Bluetails of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 121 (VAW-121), flying the E-2C early-warning radar aircraft known as the Hawkeye. While in the Bluetails, Zilberman served in multiple officer roles. Zilberman participated in detachments to Victoria, Canada, Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West, NAS El Centro, and NAS Fallon during pre-deployment training with Carrier Air Wing SEVEN (CVW-7). He deployed aboard the USS George Washington (CVN73) in 2007, and flew missions off the coast of Brazil and Chile.

Combat in Afghanistan
In the winter of 2009, Zilberman deployed to Afghanistan and flew over fifty combat flights off the coast of Pakistan in the North Arabian Sea into Afghanistan. Following completion of this combat deployment, Zilberman had an additional combat deployment scheduled in the winter of 2010. During this deployment, Zilberman enjoyed port visits to Bahrain and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At 0755 on March 31, 2010, Bluetail 601 took off from the carrier on a standard OEF mission with a scheduled 1300 landing time. Following successful completion of the OEF combat support mission, and over the North Arabian Sea, Bluetail 601 suffered a catastrophic right engine and propeller system failure resulting in the aircraft's loss at sea. Prior to crashing, Lt. Zilberman managed to hold the distressed aircraft level enough for three of his crewmates to bail out – all three of whom were subsequently rescued by rescue helicopters in the North Arabian Sea. Lt. Zilberman died at the controls of Bluetail 601 and was posthumously awarded the Navy's Distinguished Flying Cross.

Legacy
During his military career, Zilberman received 9 different military decorations: the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal,Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Ribbon.

Lt. Miroslav Steven Zilberman Memorial Highway


Part of I-270 in northwest Columbus OH near Sawmill road has been named the Lieutenant Miroslav Steven Zilberman Memorial Highway.

Plaques


A bronze plaque to Zilberman was installed on May 13, 2011, at Zilberman's high school, Bexley High School. The same bronze plaque was installed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Monument


A monument of Zilberman is installed in the Memorial Military Complex at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Columbus, Ohio. The inscription on the monument reads:

"Miroslav Steven Zilberman, a true American hero,

loving husband, father and beloved son, lost his life on March 31st, 2010, returning from a mission

over Afghanistan. A member of VAW-121 Bluetails,

Lt. Zilberman's brave action as command pilot

saved the lives of the entire crew of the E-2C Hawkeye.

For his noble effort the US Navy has posthumously awarded

him the Distinguished Flying Cross."