D-M awarded ACC-level CINC award

by Airman 1st Class Mya M. Crosby
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

10/30/2015 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz.  -- Air Combat Command announced Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., as the 2016 ACC Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence award recipient.

Established in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan, the CINC Installation Excellence award recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of the people who maintain and operate U.S. installations.

"Congratulations to all of you," said U.S. Air Force Col. James Meger, 355th Fighter Wing commander. "Thanks for providing a combat ready force, developing our Airmen the next generation of leaders, taking care of our families and for optimizing the resources we are given to accomplish the mission."

The commander stressed that D-M receiving the award wouldn't be possible without the outstanding support of the Tucson community.

"A special thanks as well to our community partners who are amazing wingmen and provided unrivaled support to the base," he said.

D-M is now competing at the Headquarters AF level with other Major Command submissions. The winner of the Headquarters AF level is awarded a crystal Installation Excellence trophy along with an Installation Excellence flag and a complimentary letter from the president.

ACC director of operations joins RPA family

by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Rosine
49th Wing Public Affairs

10/7/2015 - HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M.  -- The Air Combat Command director of operations graduated from MQ-9 Reaper pilot training Sept. 15 from the 16th Training Squadron here.

Major Gen. Thomas Deale joined the Remotely Piloted Aircraft community after completing four weeks of rigorous training to become an RPA pilot.

"General Deale's decision to join the RPA Enterprise demonstrates the significant contribution Airmen in the MQ-1 and MQ-9 communities provide the Combatant Commanders," said Col. Robert Kiebler, the 49th Wing commander.

The decision was a change for the command pilot who had previously flown A-10 Thunderbolt IIs. For the general, however, this training was a "natural choice."

"I could fly anything," said Deale, who graduated from nearby Las Cruces High School. "But, there is no bigger weapon system in the Air Force than our RPAs."

As a senior leader of ACC and the highest ranking officer to become an RPA pilot, Deale felt his training not only empowered his flying career, but also gave him hands-on insight that will make him a better Air Force leader.

"When the ACC Director of Operations knows our capabilities, and our challenges, he can communicate effectively with everyone from the lowest ranking Airmen in the Enterprise to the Secretary of the Air Force," said Kiebler.

Armed with the training and know-how he received at Holloman, the director of operations hopes he will help the RPA community through many of its future challenges.

"We have talked a lot and identified a lot of challenges," Deale said. "But, we've now got to take those areas we have identified for improvement and turn the discussions we've had into actions. That is what we owe our Airmen."

Now part of the global RPA community, Deale also wants to make sure every RPA Airman knows the truth -- they are making a difference.

"Make no mistake," he said. "Holloman and our RPA community are making a difference around the world every single day. It is our most asked for capability, and it is the one that has no doubt impacted and allowed our service members abroad to be both mission successful and to get off the battlefield alive. I couldn't be prouder than to serve with the Airmen here."

US bomber fleet unifies under 8th Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command leadership

By Maj. Phil Ventura, 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs / Published September 29, 2015

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) -- Two bomb wings from the Air Combat Command ceremonially realigned Sept. 28 to Global Strike Command's 8th Air Force, bringing all of the service's bomber fleet under a single command.

The move strengthens the Air Force's entire long range strike fleet by joining B-1B Lancers from the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, B-52H Stratofortresses from the 28th BW at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, and B-2 Spirits from the 8th Air Force, and will will be official Oct. 1.

"All five bomb wings and the long range strike capability they provide to our nation are stronger today as a result of this homecoming," said Maj. Gen. Richard Clark, the 8th Air Force commander.

While the transfer of authority involves 63 aircraft and approximately 7,000 personnel, most Airmen will not perceive an immediate change to the way they do business, according to the general. Instead, benefits will be realized over time as crosstalk increases and new opportunities arise for aviators and maintainers in the bomber community.

Still, as a career B-1B command pilot with more than 4,000 hours in the airframe and multiple assignments across the bomber community, Clark realizes that the transfer of commands has caused some apprehension.

"Change of any kind can be tough at first," Clark said. "However, this realignment makes practical sense and is grounded in our past as an air force."

Re-enforcing the general's point, both the 7th and 28th BWs have been assigned to the "Mighty Eighth" at several points -- the first time in the late 1940s and most recently as 2002, according to 8th Air Force Historian Lane Callaway.

At the strategic level, the consolidation will "provide a unified voice to maintain the high standards necessary in stewardship of our nation's bomber forces," Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said in an April news release announcing the move.

In addition to the consolidation of the bomber fleet at 8th Air Force, the Global Strike Command is also taking lead on the Long Range Strike Bomber program from Air Combat Command and, with the arrival of Gen. Robin Rand in July, was elevated from a three to four star-led command.

Reflecting on all of these changes, Clark said, "Whether it is in the B-1, B-2, or B-52, it is a great time to be a bomber Airman. We are standing on the shoulders of giants and have great days ahead."

COMACC talks 5th-generation warfare, innovation at AFA

by 1st Lt. Carrie Volpe
Air Combat Command Public Affairs

9/16/2015 - NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.  -- Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, addressed advances in fifth-generation warfare and the importance of delivering cutting-edge technology during day two of the Air Force Association's Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition.

For an audience of Airmen, civic leaders, international military representatives and numerous media affiliates, the commander of ACC provided a brief history of airpower innovation Sept. 15 before focusing on warfighting investments that will enable creative Airmen to deal with future challenges effectively.

Before getting into the specifics of aircraft advancements, Carlisle emphasized the importance of changing the way we think about warfare.

"Fifth generation isn't necessarily about an airframe," Carlisle said. "It's really about technology and thought, and how we move our Air Force to continue to be the best Air Force on the planet and what it takes to get there."

He went on to highlight the performance of the F-22 Raptors, describing the aircraft as an "aerial quarterback" that does more than what was initially expected. When put in the hands of innovative Airmen, it provides situational awareness that makes every aircraft that flies with it better, he said.

Carlisle took a moment to reflect on the progress with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which recently was delivered to Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

"It is the most powerful, comprehensive, integrated sensor suite we've ever developed," Carlisle said. Those capabilities, combined with electronic warfare and the ability to play multiple roles in combat, represent a major advancement in operations, he said.

"We are a service that was born out of technology," Carlisle said. "Airmen by nature are innovators. It's the way we think. We think different than other people and that allows us to take advantage of capability at a level that nobody else can do."

He addressed each of the core functions of the Combat Air Forces: air superiority; global precision attack; command and control; global integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and personnel recovery.

Carlisle said that keeping the technological and tactical edge in each function is imperative to staying ahead of America's adversaries.

"The foundation of the joint fight is air superiority," he said. "Our adversaries are getting better at a rapid pace, and our technological advantage is shrinking."

The general stressed the importance of changing traditional approaches to precision attack in the future in order to maintain the technological edge.

"Directed-energy weapons are an area we're headed toward, and we're going there at a fairly good pace," he said.  "I think it's a lot closer than people think it is."

"We've got to find the technologies to be able to do PR [personnel recovery] in a contested environment," Carlisle said. "We have a moral obligation to pick up our folks who are down behind enemy lines."

He elaborated on the current challenges facing the Air Force, citing limited resources and outdated technology but singling out the need to control high operations tempo.

"Our ops tempo is unrelenting. We simply don't have the capacity to do everything the combatant commanders ask us to do," he said. "The Airmen, we're burning them out and asking too much of their families."

He closed by saying that Airmen will succeed in any mission asked of them -- if Air Force leaders, in partnership with industry and government officials, will accept responsibility to give them the best tools and training.

25 years on the hunt

by 55th Wing Public Affairs

8/12/2015 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- On Aug. 9, the 55th Wing's personnel and its RC-135V/W Rivet Joint aircraft hit 25 straight years of continuous deployment to U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility.

What started out as a single ship response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990, has now turned into what is believed to be the longest single continuous deployment in U.S. Air Force history.

"On behalf of the men and women of Air Combat Command, I'd like to personally extend my deepest gratitude to the warriors of the 55th Wing for their amazing record," said U.S. Air Force Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command. "What started over 25 years ago and continues today is truly a benchmark for service and symbolizes the unwavering dedication to the mission that best represents ACC.

"Not only do the outstanding Airmen of the 55th Wing 'Provide for Today,'  but they are experts in 'Preparing for the Future' as exemplified by their uninterrupted stretch of combat action from Operation Desert Shield to the current fight against violent extremism in Operation Inherent Resolve," he added. "As I routinely highlight our Airmen as ACC's asymmetrical advantage, it is your Airmen, whose average age is equal to the number of years you've been deployed, that set the standard."

On Aug. 8, 1990, a 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing crew deployed a Rivet Joint from Hellenikon Air Base, Greece, to Riyadh Air Base, Saudi Arabia. After its initial flight over the AOR on Aug. 9, two more RJs arrived at Riyadh and 24-hour coverage commenced on Aug. 11.

"We were not ready for a tactical, bare base environment when we arrived, but we did it," said retired Col. David Wolfe, who deployed from Offutt on Aug. 8, to serve as commander of the first RJ unit at Riyadah.

Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, Wolfe said his team of about 65 maintainers and support staff had no provisions, no transportation, no place to stay, and incredibly, no way of communicating with the aircraft that was about ten hours away from returning from its first mission.

"To say the least, it was a little stressful," he said. "However, I'm proud to say our troops stepped-up and carried the load. It was a super effort on everyone's part to make the mission happen."

As things smoothed out and launching missions out of the desert became commonplace, the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth remained on the hunt after Iraq accepted the terms of a United Nations ceasefire on April 6, 1991, supporting Operation Southern Watch with valuable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for more than 10 years.

All operational 55th Wing personnel and assets transitioned from Riyadh Air Base to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, in 1996, while also continuing support of Vigilant Sentinel, Desert Strike, Desert Thunder I, Desert Thunder II and Desert Fox among others.

"It's safe to say the men and women of the 55th Wing have been involved in every major operation in the CENTCOM AOR over the past 25 years," said Col. Marty Reynolds, 55th Wing commander. "Their ability to continually answer our nation's call is inspiring."

Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the 55th Wing's mission in the CENTCOM AOR increased even more as they became key players in Operation Enduring Freedom, which started in October 2001. They also played a major role in Operation Iraqi Freedom, which commenced in March 2003.

For the majority of aircrew and maintenance personnel assigned to the wing over the past 25 years, the standard deployment cycle has been 3.1 deployments per year with an average of 60 days on and 60 days off. That means that if someone spent their entire career with the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth, they would have been deployed roughly 2,400 days.

"The ops tempo here is just a fact of life and it's truly humbling watching our Airmen execute our mission downrange," Reynolds said. "They're always willing to step up to the challenge as they know the important role our mission plays in the fight."

And while OIF and OEF ended in 2011 and 2014, the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth has continued to be called upon to support Operations New Dawn, Freedom's Sentinel and Inherent Resolve moving forward.

"The idea that as we reduce the footprint on the ground in Afghanistan, there would be a measurable reduction in the operations tempo is not really the reality," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody, during a visit to Offutt in March. "That region has been extremely critical to us and is going to remain critical. To have our ISR assets and Airmen engaged there is essential for the security of our nation and our partners."

So for a brief moment, the 55th Wing will pause to reflect on 25 years in the desert. However, they do so knowing full well there's no clear end in sight as the nation's decision makers continue to thirst for the intel that only they can provide.

"I had no idea that when I took the unit over there 25 years ago that we'd still be there today," Wolfe said. "But this wing always steps up and gets the job done as needed."

"It is most impressive to witness your historic efforts," Carlisle said. "The 55th Wing has my deepest heartfelt appreciation for its continued sacrifice to our nation's calling."

9th AF welcomes new commander

by Capt. Tristan Hinderliter
9th Air Force Public Affairs

8/3/2015 - SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C.  -- Ninth Air Force welcomed a new commander here, as Maj. Gen. Mark Kelly assumed command from Maj. Gen. H. D. Polumbo Jr. in a ceremony officiated by Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, on July 31.

Ninth Air Force, headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, is a Numbered Air Force under ACC comprised of eight active duty wings and three direct reporting units primarily in the Southeastern U.S. with more than 400 aircraft and 29,000 personnel assigned. Several of the command's aircraft, which include the A-10, F-16, F-15E and F-22 fighter jets, an HH-60 helicopter and a HC-130J aircraft, were on display outside the ceremony.

Kelly, a 1986 graduate of Southwest Texas State University and a fighter pilot, comes to 9th Air Force from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, where he commanded the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing. Earlier in his career, he commanded a fighter squadron and two fighter wings. He is accompanied by his wife, Tanya.

"It goes without saying that Tanya and I are excited to be here," Kelly told the audience at the ceremony. "Part of our Airman's Creed talks about our nation's sword and shield. Here at 9th Air Force, that's talking about you."

Kelly thanked the many civic leaders in attendance, including the mayors of Sumter, S.C. and Goldsboro, N.C., for their support for the Air Force.

"Thanks for loving our Airmen enough to hold them to a high standard," Kelly said.  "Thanks for putting a community arm around them and their families so they're ready to succeed in challenging environments.

"In the coming months I look forward to thanking each community, each wing and each Airman eye-to-eye in person, and I look forward to continuing a well-established culture of 9th Air Force excellence."

Polumbo, who is retiring after a 34-year career, said it had been an honor to serve as 9th Air Force commander, a position he held since May 2013. 

"I know 9th Air Force is ready, and will stay ready under the leadership of General Mark 'Grace' Kelly," Polumbo said. "I truly enjoyed being part of everyone's lives." 

Before he relinquished command, Polumbo was presented a Distinguished Service Medal by Carlisle for "exceptionally meritorious service in duties of great responsibility."

"Jake, you have had an incredible career in service to our nation," said Carlisle, using Polumbo's call sign. "Every American owes you a debt of gratitude. Thank you for your service, your friendship, and for being an incredible Airman - congratulations."

Carlisle also offered praise for Kelly.   

"Somehow, every time an incredible, world-class, top-of-the-heap commander steps away, we are blessed and fortunate enough to have a world-class, top-of-the-heap commander step in," Carlisle said.  "That is no different today.

"Grace, you have big shoes to fill, but I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that you will do it and continue what Jake started and make this command even better."

Summer of five transitions encourages innovation

by Airman 1st Class Autumn Velez
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

7/10/2015 - DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas  -- What if, instead of muting and storing your cell phone during a commander's call, you took it out of your pocket and began typing and texting in plain sight?

At a commander's call hosted by Col. Michael Bob Starr, 7th Bomb Wing commander, that's exactly what happened.

Starr invited Airmen of all ranks to join him for an interactive commander's call by using their mobile devices to view his presentation in a web browser. In addition to putting the presentation in the palm of the audience's hands, the web-based program allowed Starr to perform live polls, display real-time results and allow the audience to submit questions.

To begin his call, Starr acknowledged the numerous transitions the wing will soon experience. "I am referring to this season, for us, as the summer of five transitions," Starr said. "This transition will provide a chance to relook at how we do business."

These transitions include: the B-1B Lancer's transition to the Block-16 upgrade, which is the largest hardware and software modification ever performed on the aircraft, the standing up of an Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, the establishment of a B-1 classic reserve association at Dyess, the 7th BW's transition from Air Combat Command to Air Force Global Strike Command, and the introduction of the new Enlisted Evaluation System.

"Anytime you go through a transition, it is a good time to reassess where you are and what you are doing," Starr said. "This will help create an innovative culture."

He then took the opportunity to highlight innovative things happening across the installation, including the introduction of a smartphone application created by a Dyess Airman that streamlines data collecting and work order processing for damaged runway sections by geo-tagging the specific damaged areas and the reorganization of the aircraft parts store to more effectively accomplish the mission.

"This is what we do," he said. "We are driven by the need to find creative solutions to problems."

Continuing to encourage innovation, Starr promoted the Big Country Innovation Challenge 1.0. The challenge is an entrepreneurial pitch contest that gives Airmen six minutes to propose their innovative idea for the chance to win $5,000 to put towards executing their solution. The first challenge was held June 26, and there will be and more challenges to come over the course of the year.

After his briefing, he took questions from the audience using the questions submitted to him from the web-based program. In total, there were nearly 300 questions submitted to Starr over the five commander's calls throughout the day. These questions ranged from serious concerns to simple questions.

One common concern was the 7th BW's upcoming transition from ACC to AFGSC. Starr expressed that very little would change with this transition to a new major command. Some questions were about upcoming changes to the Enlisted Evaluation System and Weighted Airman Promotion System. One audience member asked if Chief Master Sgt. Aaron Bennett, who recently became the 7th Bomb Wing command chief, was required to shave his head in order to take the job. Bennett took the floor to assure a clean-shaven head was not a requirement, just a coincidence, since he and Starr both sport the look.

To bring the commander's call to a close, Starr left the Airmen with some motivational words.

"Innovation is part of Airmen's DNA," he said. "This is who we are. It's branded into our culture. It's branded into our tradition. It's part of our core values. It's inherently part of excellence."

Air Force General Expresses Confidence in F-22

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Amy L. Robinson

Air Combat Command

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va.  – The commander of the Air Force’s Air Combat Command met with reporters this week to discuss the national security imperative for the F-22 Raptor fighter jet, the status of efforts to identify a root cause for unexplained physiological incidents with the aircraft, and risk mitigation efforts since the Raptor’s return to flying operations in September 2011.

Confirming recent media reports of the F-22 deploying to Southwest Asia, Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage emphasized the Raptor’s ability to support combatant commander requirements around the world.

“I won’t comment where it’s deployed to or where it deployed from, but yes, the F-22 is on an operational deployment now. And this is not the first operational deployment,” he said. “If your adversary is so concerned about what your capabilities are they decide not to engage with you, that, to me, is the ultimate use of your military capability. People pay attention to where this airplane goes and what it does. … We need to make sure that it’s a sustained part of our inventory.”

A command-directed F-22 stand-down from May to September 2011 was a prudent measure following reports of potential oxygen system malfunctions, the general said. Since the stand-down, he added, Air Combat Command has implemented risk mitigation measures intended to protect F-22 pilots and maintenance crews and prevent future incidents.

Though he understands there are still concerns about the aircraft, Hostage said, a certain amount of risk always is involved and must be balanced with the requirement for the capability.

“In a peacetime training circumstance, we want to operate at as low of risk is prudent for the level of training we get out of a mission,” he explained. “When we go into combat, risk goes up, but the reason to assume that risk goes up as well.

“We live in a community where risk is part of our lives,” he continued. “If we think the risk has gone to a level where we just can’t accept it, we either reduce that risk or eliminate it. But right now, we believe that risk -- although it’s not as low as we would like it -- is low enough to safely operate the airplane at the current tempo.”

Hostage said he doesn’t expect his airmen to take the risk alone. In an effort to learn more about the aircraft and get a better understanding of what F-22 pilots are dealing with, he said, hesoon will begin flying the Raptor himself.

“I’m asking these guys to assume some risk that’s over and above what everybody else is assuming, and I don’t feel like it’s right that I ask them to do it and then I’m not willing to do it myself -- that’s not fair,” he said. The day officials figure out the problem is the day he will stop flying, he added.

Since the aircraft resumed flying operations in September, the F-22 has flown more than 12,000 sorties and returned to operational capability.

“We’ve taken a very specific, methodical approach to how we return to flying -- the types of missions and the durations of the missions,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles W. Lyon, Air Combat Command’s director of operations, who also participated in the media roundtable. “We’ve been continually increasing the types and durations.”

The Air Force continues to search for the root cause of the unexplained physiological incidents using detailed data-collection methods, which will soon include centrifuge and high-energy testing. Hostage said he believes the command is making significant progress toward an answer, but he emphasized that scientific testing and data collection take time.

“I believe we are making significant progress toward an answer,” Hostage said. “I don’t want to characterize how far or when, because I don’t own the progress of science. But I am confident we’re going to get to a solution.”

Both Lyon and Hostage compared this to the early days of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Although the first F-16 had its first operational flight in 1970, the combat edge aircrew flight equipment, which was optimized for high-G flight, wasn’t fielded until about 1988, Lyon said.

“We didn’t field it slowly because we had fiscal challenges,” he said. “It took us that long to get the understanding over time of what was actually happening.”

Hostage said a similar situation exists with the F-22 regarding the unknown effects of human physiology and technology.

“What we’re looking at is human physiology and the regime this airplane operates in,” he said. “This airplane does things airplanes have never done before in regimes of flight that we’ve never operated in before.”

Hostage said he’s confident a solution for what he calls “the most tactically-capable aircraft in the world” will come.

“This nation needs this airplane – and every one of them,” he said. “I wish I had 10 times as many as I have.”