14th AF and JFCC Space welcome new commander

by Capt. Nicholas Mercurio
14th Air Force Public Affairs

8/17/2015 - VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. David J. Buck assumed command of 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic), Air Force Space Command and  Joint Functional Component Command for Space, U. S. Strategic Command, during a ceremony at the Joint Space Operations Center, here, Aug. 14.

Buck, who was promoted to lieutenant general during a ceremony prior to the change of command, previously served as Vice Commander, AFSPC, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

U.S. Navy Adm. Cecil D. Haney, commander, USSTRATCOM, and U.S. Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten, commander, AFSPC, presided over the ceremony during which U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. John W. Raymond relinquished command to Buck.

During his remarks, Haney stressed the significant role JFCC Space plays in USSTRATCOM's strategic deterrence and assurance efforts and welcomed Buck into his new role.

"Space underpins every part of our global economy and way of life," Haney said.  "The strategic environment today is more challenging and volatile than ever before, and I can't think of a better leader than General Buck to take this incredible team forward to face the challenges which lie ahead."

Hyten echoed the admiral's trust in Buck, and also discussed importance of the space mission.

"The global space enterprise depends on the availability and capabilities of DoD space assets," Hyten said.  "The area of responsibility for the people in this room is 73 trillion cubic miles and you are the best in the world at what you do."

Buck, who previously served at Vandenberg AFB as the 30th Space Wing Commander from June 2008 to April 2010, expressed his excitement to return to Vandenberg and to continue the growth of 14th AF and JFCC Space.

"Stella and I are excited to be home.  There's no greater honor than to be entrusted with command," said Buck, "and there is no doubt these are exciting and dynamic times.  In many ways we are at a crossroad.  We have the obligation to transform our culture and drive the operational imperatives to enable us to effectively operate in this congested, degraded and operationally limited domain.  I'm anxious to roll up my sleeves and get to work."

Buck started his Air Force career as an Enlisted Airman advancing to Technical Sergeant before receiving his commission in 1986 as a distinguished graduate of Officer Training School. His career spans a wide variety of command, operations, test and evaluation, and staff assignments.  He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels and his operational experience includes missile operations, space launch and range operations, satellite command and control, space force enhancement, and space control.  In 2010 he deployed to Southwest Asia as the Director of Space Forces for U.S. Air Forces Central.

As the commander of 14th AF, the Air Force's sole Numbered Air Force for space, he leads an operational mission that includes space launch from the east and west coasts, satellite command and control, missile warning, space situational awareness and command and control of assigned and attached joint space forces.

As the commander of JFCC Space, which is the space component of USSTRATCOM, Buck is responsible for executing continuous, integrated space operations to deliver theater and global effects in support of national and combatant commander objectives.

Raymond, who leaves Vandenberg to assume his new role as Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force, praised the men and women of 14th AF and JFCC Space, saying, "Thank you, I cannot say it enough for how much your effort has advanced our space capabilities. It has been my highest professional honor to serve as your commander.  Your mission fuels the American way of life," Raymond said.

"This job was the one I've always dreamed of," he continued, "and thanks to you, I am going to a job I never dreamed I could get.  Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States."

Be true to yourself

by Tech. Sgt. Mike Slater
Air Force Space Command Public Affairs

8/6/2015 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- 31 years, 28 days. Chief Master Sergeant Doug McIntyre, Command Chief, Air Force Space Command, has served a long career.

"I've been extremely blessed to love what I do for my entire adult life," said Chief McIntyre. That's why it's important to him not to short those 28 days. Those 28 days have been productive, too.  The Air Force recently announced the Education with Industry program would be open to the enlisted force.

Education with Industry is a program that dates back to the beginning of the Air Force, starting in 1947.  The program has long placed Airmen with the Defense Industry to expand their knowledge. Commissioned Officer Airmen, that is.

"Opening Education with Industry to the enlisted force just reinforces what I think is the thing that has been the most positive change since I've been in the Air Force and that is the growth of the professionalism in the enlisted force," said McIntyre.

"I have been reflecting lately on what I have seen these last 31 years, 28 days and what I have really seen is a transformation in the enlisted force. When I came in we were not the professional force we are today. Today's enlisted force is highly educated and to see the jobs and responsibilities that enlisted people are tackling now compared to when I came in has just been an honor to see."

Chief McIntyre said another positive change the Air Force has made is in equality.

"When I came in, there was just all kinds of tension, racial tension, gender tension, there was officer and enlisted tension. Just tension," said McIntyre.  "Today's Air Force, I like to call it the Equal Opportunity Air Force, because anybody who comes in, regardless of their background, has a shot to go as far as they want to."

Chief McIntyre has some simple advice for Airmen that may find themselves on a path preventing them from reaching their professional or personal goals.

Be true to yourself.

"My first base was Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. I was far from home for the first time and I kind of fell into a pattern of partying.  That wasn't who I was, I was just going along with my peer group," said McIntyre.

Chief McIntyre said after a weekend of partying and feeling sick he sat down and wrote a 2-page letter to himself.

"I still have it. It was about who I was going to be and what I was going to stand for.  I was challenging myself; I had the ability to great things, but I was going through life easy, half-stepping. So I challenged myself to not settle and really put in the effort to be somebody," said Chief McIntyre.

"Be true to yourself, that goes for Airman Basic all the way to 4-star General. Be true to yourself."

Finding a mentor is also an important step to becoming the person Chief McIntyre wanted to be.

"Mine at that time was Darryl Tabor, he was a Senior Airman and it was his second base, so to me, he knew everything."

Tabor got the young McIntyre out of the dorms and into athletics and other things.

After leaving Alaska, McIntyre got to go on temporary duty to an Operation Bright Star exercise in Egypt.

"That was the first time I really knew and could feel the whole big picture," said McIntyre. "To watch us fall in on a bare runway and within a week we were flying sorties; seeing the ability of the Air Force to go anywhere and project this power was amazing and it brought it all together for me."

Chief McIntyre said there is one torch he would like the Air Force to carry forward after his 31 years and 28 days are up, stability.

"If I could wish for one thing for the force it would be stability. There have been many, many changes just in the time I've been AFSPC Command Chief. Between sequestration, force shaping, changing promotions, changing Enlisted Performance Reports, Professional Military Education.  The Air Force is constantly changing and the Airmen are used to change," said McIntyre. "But what I'd like to see is stability. I think the Airmen want it and they need it."

"Let's sit back a bit and see if all the changes we've done are going to yield what we think it's going to yield. If there's a major change needed to something we've done, tweak around the edges, but we need to steady the force."

When asked what he will miss most, Chief McIntyre's answer was easy and quick.

"The Air Force is full of amazing people at all ranks. That's what makes us World Champions, it's not the equipment, it's not the technology, there's not anything that makes the United States Air Force the World Champions, other than its people," said McIntyre. "That's the one thing I'll miss the most, the people."

In retirement, Chief McIntyre will move to North Carolina with his wife and daughters.

"As anyone who serves with a family knows, it's a family affair. The family definitely makes sacrifices. I owe my family, but especially my wife and my daughters, a huge thanks for their support and sacrifice," said McIntyre. "The hardest day I ever had in uniform was leaving the Azores to deploy for a year to be a deployed Command Chief. My daughters were 7 and 9 and they were literally hanging on to me, trying to stop me from getting on the plane."

Chief McIntyre will continue to mentor through the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps in North Carolina. But he will always cherish his Air Force career, all 31 years and 28 days of it.

Team BLUE visits Team 5-0

by 2nd Lt. Darren Domingo
50th Space Wing Public Affairs

7/28/2015 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Get ready for your big TV debut, Schriever.

A team of Air Force TV broadcast producers, responsible for creating episodes of the Air Force's flagship television program, BLUE, is visiting Schriever July 24-30 to get a better grasp of the 50th Space Wing's role within Air Force Space Command.

According to their YouTube page, Air Force TV, "BLUE delves into the lives of Airmen through in-depth storytelling, with an unflinching look into the blood and sweat that makes America's Air Force what it is. Marines bleed scarlet and gold, the Army bleeds green ... Airmen bleed BLUE."

To date, Air Force TV has released six episodes of BLUE - their next being focused on Air Force Space Command.

"We're here to learn as much as we can. We're visiting Schriever and Buckley to just capture as much as we can to tell some of the Air Force's space story," said Staff Sgt. Peter Ising, Air Force TV broadcast producer.

Hailing from Ft. Meade, Maryland, at Defense Media Activity, the three visitors spent time visiting the Central Utilities Plant, 22nd Space Operations Squadron, 50th Space Communications Squadron, 50th Security Forces Squadron and 2nd Space Operations Squadron. The team also witnessed the Satellite Control Authority transfer on July 24.

"People aren't always aware of the magnitude that our mission has," said Senior Airman Shirley Montgomery, 2 SOPS mission chief. "I'm looking forward to seeing team BLUE shine a light on that."

Despite receiving a deep pool of information on the mission aspects Schriever provides, Ising explained a focus on the people that make Schriever run is what is more important to them.

"Satellites and missions are important, but it's the characters of BLUE episodes that people really want to see," said Ising. "That's the heart and soul of BLUE."
Staff Sgt. Traci Keller, Air Force TV broadcast producer, shared what makes her job fulfilling.

"There's just so much you never really know that goes on here at Schriever," said Keller. "The great thing about being a broadcaster is being able to see what other people do every day."

As for Team 5-0, in order to understand how much of a big deal this BLUE episode will be, one only needs to YouTube "Air Force TV" to see the production level these crews produce.

"[Schriever] can expect to see what their mission looks like to an outsider's perspective," said Staff Sgt. Michael Brady, Air Force TV Broadcast Producer.

Whether you're a seasoned Schriever space stud, or a young newbie to anything space-based, anyone interested to see the newest episode of BLUE can expect to see it released by approximately late September.