Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise on Friday, July 10, until sunset on Friday, July 17, 2026, in remembrance of U.S. Air Force Maj. Brad Hovey, an Iowa native.
Maj. Hovey, a pilot with the 419th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base in California, was tragically killed during a B-52 flight test mission on June 15, 2026.
Governor Reynolds expressed profound gratitude for Maj. Hovey's service. "Maj. Hovey lived and served with honor and distinction, and we are forever grateful for his service,” said Governor Kim Reynolds. “My family’s prayers remain with Maj. Hovey’s wife and children, parents, brothers, and in-laws, as they prepare to lay their loved one to rest. As a state, we grieve his loss together, and we stand united in our support of his family.”
Flags will be flown at half-staff on the State Capitol Building, throughout the Capitol Complex, and on all public buildings, grounds, and facilities across Iowa. The Governor also encouraged individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties, and other government subdivisions to observe the same period of respect.