Meridian’s military citizen of year

MERIDIAN, Miss. – The Navy League of Meridian, Miss., presented its Military Citizen of the Year award to Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class Orrin Bryant, who is a chaplain's assistant at Naval Air Station Meridian’s chapel. He was also the recipient of the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and the President's Volunteer Service Award. The award identifies a military member who dedicates much of their personal time to community service. The nominees for the award say impacting the community is what matters most - not the awards or recognition. The other two nominees for the award were Yeoman 1st Class Luis Chavera, the Leading Petty Officer at Naval Operational Support Center Meridian, who was also the recipient of the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class William Tallman, who works at Naval Branch Health Clinic Meridian’s Medical Home Port as the Assistant Leading Petty Officer. He also is a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate. (Source: WTOK 02/27/18)

AF T-6s to resume flying

ENID, Okla. - T-6 training aircraft will resume flight operations Feb. 28 at three Air Force training bases in Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas following a month-long probe into hypoxia-like incidents in the aircraft, according to an AF media release. The aircraft had been placed on an "operational pause" since Feb. 1 after several unexplained physiological events (UPEs) in late January at Columbus AFB, Miss.; Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma; and Sheppard AFB in Texas. The pause was directed by Maj. Gen. Patrick J. Doherty, commander of the 19th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, to "examine the root causes” of the incidents and develop solutions. During the “pause”, the AF was required to provide an intrusive look at every component on each aircraft connected to the On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS), according to Doherty. The pause was being lifted after the investigative team determined the airplanes' OBOGS had deteriorated, affecting performance. “(It) became apparent the T-6 fleet was exhibiting symptoms indicative of a compromise of the integrity of the OBOGS, leading to degradations in performance, which then likely led to the pilots’ physiological events," Doherty said. While the final root cause of degradation hasn’t been determined, Doherty was confident the cause of the physiological incidents has been identified. (Source: Enid News & Eagle 02/27/18)

Keesler is top AF hospital

Keesler Air Force Base Medical Center in Biloxi, Miss., was named by the AF surgeon general’s office as the top “Hospital of the Year” within the Air Force. The facility, operated by the 81st Medical Group (MDG), manages one of the busier hospitals within the Defense Department, according to an 81st Training Wing media release. There was no mention as to the hospital’s daily in-patient census. AF hospitals were judged in four categories: Readiness, operational support, medical home, and trusted care. Keesler's proficiency in all four categories set it apart, according to the release. In 2017, the medical center responded to numerous crises and natural disasters. Days after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the medical center's critical care air transport teams deployed to support rescue and recovery efforts in Texas and Florida. (Source: NOLA.com 02/23/18) Keesler Medical Center is the second largest AF medical center. The 81st MDG command oversees the Gulf Coast Multi-Service Market, which includes five military facilities from Mobile, Ala., to New Orleans. It has the fourth largest AF deployment platform: 60-plus personnel annually. The hospital has 66 training affiliations with 35 different institutions for physicians, technicians, and nurses. The General Surgery residency program is integrated with Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla., and 96th Medical Group at Eglin AFB, Fla. In 2005, the hospital was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and took more than a year to totally rebound from those damages. It’s unclear whether the residency at Pensacola will continue based on the Navy facility dropping in-patient services this coming July. There was no mention as to Keesler's daily in-patient census.

T-X will replace T-38 for training

WASHINGTON - The Air Force announced Feb. 21 that the Advanced Pilot Trainer (T-X) will replace T-38C Talon aircraft at existing undergraduate pilot training bases. Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, was initially named as the preferred location for the first T-X aircraft scheduled to arrive in 2022. The other locations include Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.; Laughlin AFB and Sheppard AFB in Texas; and Vance AFB, Okla. Current pilot training installations rely on unique runway structures and special-use airspace capable of supporting high volume pilot training which makes them ideal for the new aircraft. The T-X trainer will provide student-pilots with the skills and competencies required to transition into 4th and 5th generation fighters. Basing the T-X at JB San Antonio-Randolph first, home to AF’s instructor-pilot training, is an essential step to establishing a T-X instructor pilot pipeline, and sets the conditions to transition to T-X training at those other training locations. The AF will now begin the required environmental analyses at all existing undergraduate pilot locations. The AF is expected to award a contract for the new aircraft this year. The first is expected to arrive at JB San Antonio-Randolph as early as 2022. (Source: Secretary of the Air Force 02/21/18) The first of two T-38s arrived at Tyndall AFB, Fla., in 2011. The Air Education and Training Command uses T-38Cs to prepare pilots for front-line fighter and bomber aircraft training against F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15C Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, B-1B Lancer, A-10 Thunderbolt, and F-22 Raptors. Tyndall has the largest contingent of F-22s in the Air Force. Advanced joint training students at Columbus AFB, Miss., fly T-38s in aerobatics, formation, night, instrument, and cross-country navigation during training. Prior to the arrival of T-38s to Tyndall AFB, the fifth-generation F-22s have had train in advanced simulators and acting as aggressors during training sorties.

NHP to drop in-patient, OB care

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Effective in July, Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla., will transition to an ambulatory care facility with focus on outpatient care and same-day ambulatory surgical procedures. NHP will no longer provide in-patient care or obstetric (OB) services. Expectant mothers with a delivery date after the transition will be referred to an area Tricare network health care facility. OB patients will be assigned an OB provider through Tricare, but will have the option to select their own OB provider. "The transition to an ambulatory care model will have minimal impact on the majority of our patients," said Capt. Amy Branstetter, NHP commanding officer. NHP patients include active duty, military retirees and both their family members, according to an NHP media release. The decline in the delivery of babies at NHP allows for the volume to easily be absorbed into the civilian network, according to the release. The Navy Medicine decision to refer OB patients to the network is part of efforts to realign health care services at all military treatment facilities, and to ensure providers have critical military medical training. NHP’s OB staff will be “assigned to other areas of the hospital or other Navy facilities where their skills will be fully utilized," the CO said. NHP-enrolled patients will continue to have access to primary and specialty care through Medical Home Port teams. Laboratory, pharmacy, and radiology will continue to be available to Tricare Prime and TRICARE Select beneficiaries. (Source: Naval Hospital Pensacola 02/21/18) NHP is a former 3-year Family Medicine residency program, which included specialty training in OB and urgent care. FM residency training ended about two years ago. NHP has 10 branch health clinics at NAS Meridian and Gulfport, Miss., New Orleans, as well as NAS Whiting Field, Fla.

State, JMAA battling in court

Mississippi state officials are trying attempting to take over some 1,200 acres of undeveloped land surrounding Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport. Part of the legislation passed in 2016 calls for doing away with the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (JMAA), and replacing it with a regional board, essentially taking the airport away from the City o f Jackson and transferring it to the state. Jackson has filed a legal challenge in U.S. District Court. The case was still in discovery last week. Attorneys representing the city want lawmakers to turn over all correspondence related to the airport. Gov. Phil Bryant is asking the court for a protective order to prevent state staff members from being forced to give depositions. District 20 state Sen. Josh Harkins, who author the SB 2162 that passed both houses of the legislature, says the background issue is that JMAA has failed to economically develop 1,200 acres for decades. “For 35 years the airport hasn’t changed,” he told the weekly Northside Sun. Harkins has agreed to turn over all e-mails related to the bill. Under that bill, JMAA would be replaced by a nine-member regional board. Only two of would be appointed by Jackson city officials. Harkins claims the bill isn’t a takeover because the city would still own the airport, land, and receive revenue from leases made on the property. But SB 2162 passed before the extension of the East Metro Parkway. Before that completion, JMAA could not access the acreage to market it, according to JMAA Chief Executive Carl Newman. Without a majority on the new board, Jackson’s elected leaders would have little say in how the land could be leased or to whom. The airport sits on about 3,800 acres in Rankin County. Ward Two Councilman Melvin Priester believes politics is the behind the attempted takeover, and points to efforts in other “red states” (where a majority of legislators and governors are Republican). In 2013, the North Carolina legislature voted to replace the commission at the Charlotte-Douglas airport. The attempted run-around was blocked by a federal judge. (Source: Northside Sun series 02/19/18)

Vets to make bicycle trek across GC

NEW ORLEANS - More than 150 injured and wounded veterans, first responders and supporters will be cycling from Tallahassee, Fla., to New Orleans from March 5-10 in an effort to raise awareness to those families with needs. The veterans will be participating in the 10th annual UnitedHealthcare Gulf Coast Challenge, a non-competitive bicycle tour across 450 miles of the northern Gulf Coast (GC). The cyclists will make overnight stops in Panama City and Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Orange Beach and Mobile, Ala., and Gulfport, Miss. The Gulf Coast Challenge also raises awareness about America’s heroes’ needs while honoring their courage, both in defending the nation and learning how to address the challenges of daily life, upon returning home. (Source: WVUE 02/19/18)

History: Payne Field at nearly 100

Payne Field, four miles north of West Point, Miss., is a little-known, but historic air field. It has been called Mississippi's first airport. It was 100 years ago March 10, 1918, that the first squadron of JN-4 "Jennys" arrived at Payne to begin active training for U.S. Army Air Service (AAS) pilots to produce a portion of more than 10,000 overall Signal Officers Reserve Corps officers. Ten years after the Wright Brothers delivered their first aircraft to the newly formed AAS, WWI brought aviation to war-time, and with the need for the first group of military-trained pilots. In 1917, West Point was selected as one of the sites for pilot training. The field was constructed on 533 acres of open prairie. The first squadron arrived March 10, 1918. By May 1, the field was fully operational with 125 flying Jennys. Most townfolks had never seen an aircraft before, and called the planes "buzz wagons," and the aviators "birdmen." (Source: Columbus Dispatch opinion 02/17/18)

Mississippi’s safest cities

WEST POINT, Miss. – The National Council for Home Safety and Security’s Safest City in Mississippi list indicates that Petal is No. 1. Among some of the other Top 10 cities was Oxford, Olive Branch and the Golden Triangle’s West Point. The cities were listed based on recent FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics and other research. Cities were ranked based on the number of reported violent crimes and property crimes per 1,000 people. (Source: WCBI 02/14/18)

T-1A avionics modification

ASES LLC, doing business as Field Aerospace, of Oklahoma City, Okla., has been awarded an $18,500,038 firm-fixed-price contract for the T-1A Avionics Modification program. The contract provides for the replacement of the avionics suite in the T-1A fleet of 178 aircraft, 16 operational flight trainers, and 14 part task trainers. Work will be performed in Oklahoma City; Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.; Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.; Randolph AFB, Texas; Vance AFB, Okla.; and Laughlin AFB, Texas. Work is expected to be complete by Aug. 14, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and eight offers were received. FY 2017-18 procurement funds in the amount of $18,500,038 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center of Tinker AFB, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8106-18-C-0002). (Source: DOD 02/14/18)

Leonardo won’t challenge Army plan

Leonardo Helicopters is backing down from its challenge to U.S. Army’s plans to purchase more Airbus Helicopter’s UH-72A Lakotas, ending a three-year legal battle that had become increasingly heated. The Army competitively selected the UH-72A as its Light Utility Helicopter in 2006. The aircraft became the Army’s primary training helicopter under the terms of the 2013 Aviation Restructure Initiative. AHI-Columbus, Miss., has built hundreds of UH-72s for Army Aviation training, primarily at Fort Rucker, Ala. In a statement to Vertical on Feb. 12, the company declared: “In light of the appellate court ruling, Leonardo Helicopters has decided to discontinue any further legal action regarding the sole-source award of trainer helicopters to the U.S. Army.” The ruling was a Jan. 23 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals, which overturned a lower court’s injunction against the Army’s purchase of 16 Lakotas from Airbus Helicopters Inc. (Source: Vertical 02/12/18)

NAMI lab researching hypoxia

A Pensacola, Fla.-based Navy student-pilot had reached an altitude of 20,000 feet in a flight simulator when she began to feel the symptoms of hypoxia due to oxygen deprivation. The student’s feet began to tingle and vision blurred. She started to struggle with a series of cognitive tests and responses to commands – like turning the aircraft - were slowed. Seconds count when flying. “Pilots need to be able to identify hypoxia before they become incapacitated," said Navy (Dr.) Capt. Merrill Rice, a physician heading a study of pilots' responses to oxygen deprivation, told the Pensacola News Journal. The Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (NAMI) researchers chart student pilots' brain waves, oxygen levels, and performance on cognitive tests over 90 minutes of simulated flight. The students wear oxygen masks, which researchers use to induce hypoxic conditions. Rice’s work at the NAMI lab could be key to helping the military overcome numerous Unexplained Physiologic Events linked to hypoxia, which has caused the Air Force and Navy to ground various aircraft over the past year. Among the aircraft that have been grounded is the T-45C Goshawk trainer, also flown at Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss.; and the AF’s variant of the T-6 Texan II that is also flown at Columbus (Miss.) Air Force Base. (Source: Pensacola News Journal 02/10/18)

AF grounds T-6s at NAS Pensacola

The Air Force has grounded training flights at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., due to unexplained physiological events (UPE) related to the lack of oxygen getting to pilots while flying the same T-6 Texan IIA as Columbus (Miss.) Air Force Base, Vance AFB in Oklahoma, and Sheppard AFB in Texas, according to Randy Martin, a spokesperson for the San Antonio-based 12th Flying Squadron. The AF uses the aircraft to train combat systems officers as part of the 479th Fighter Group located adjacent to Sherman Field on NAS Pensacola. The fighter group has 22 of the T-6 aircraft. In early February, the AF grounded its entire fleet of T-6 Texan IIA after reports of pilots experiencing hypoxia due to the lack of significant oxygen in flight. NAS Whiting Field, Fla., which provides primary flight training for 60 percent of all Coast Guard, Marine, and Navy pilots, flies a different version of the T-6. Whiting officials have said pilots flying its variant have not experienced UPEs. However, the Navy did temporarily grounded its fleet of T-45C Goshawk trainers in April when some instructor pilots, including those in Pensacola and Meridian, Miss., refused to fly after experiencing in-flight hypoxia. The Navy has developed a series of workarounds involving the planes' on-board oxygen generating system to allow pilots to continue flying. (Source: Pensacola News Journal 02/08/17)

OM grad earns philanthropy award

OXFORD, Miss. – Every morning Markeeva Morgan and his wife, Shaquinta, send their daughters off to school by emphasizing a message: Be learners, be leaders and be lights. “We feel these attributes form a foundation of humble greatness infused with a central compulsion to give forward,” said Morgan, the inaugural recipient of the Emerging Philanthropist Award from the University of Mississippi’s Women’s Council for Philanthropy. He is to be honored April 13 on campus. The 2001 UM electrical engineering graduate, from Madison, Ala., is leading a multidisciplinary engineering team to design and develop software for an aerospace vehicle. The 38-year-old avionics engineer works in guidance, navigation and control; and software management for The Boeing Co. Previously, he worked as NASA’s Space Launch System core stage avionics hardware subsystems manager. The Emerging Philanthropist Award recognizes Morgan’s service to students and organizations; coupled with his demanding, high-pressure career; and dedication to family, said Mary Haskell, OMWC chairperson. Besides working with UM students, Morgan, who earned a master’s degree in engineering management from Catholic University of America and who is pursuing a doctorate in systems engineering at George Washington University. He also teaches at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. (Source: Ole Miss 02/08/18)

Lott: Frivilious defense lawsuits

Opinion/blog by former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) The challenges facing our military forces are difficult enough with extended deployments, aging equipment, and competing funding among the services. When you add mission uncertainty, pilot shortages, and the shortsighted interests of some defense contractors, who are sacrificing military training for their own financial well-being, the challenges become nearly insurmountable. Recently, the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals took steps to reverse one … egregious example. Two years ago, Leonardo’s helicopter division, part of an Italian aerospace firm, filed suit against the U.S. Army in an attempt to bring to a halt the Army’s congressionally-approved acquisition of helicopters for training pilots at Fort Rucker, Ala. The Army made a smart decision to re-purpose the existing UH-72A Lakota fleet (built in Columbus, Miss., by Airbus Helicopters Inc.) from other utility missions to training … and were already performing. But just 16 more aircraft were required to round out its fleet of nearly 200. Leonardo, who lost the original competition in 2006, thought the Army should be forced to spend taxpayer dollars on a competition for those last Lakotas. … (T)he courts have freed the Army to proceed (but) it remains to be seen if Leonardo will go back to court to stop the Army yet again. Leonardo’s actions demonstrate … their company(‘s) interests take precedence over the training … of the Army’s pilots and military readiness. This is not the fault of the Congress. It is not the fault of the Army or the courts. Leonardo is holding Army readiness hostage with this lawsuit, and if successful will cost taxpayers millions of dollars and create an inefficient training fleet, resulting in decreased readiness for our forces. Ironically, as Leonardo exacerbates the Army’s pilot shortage, it is simultaneously bidding to replace the Air Force’s T-38 training aircraft with their Italian-made M346; a paradox for sure. … Hopefully, when the Air Force makes (its) award … in about five months, any potential protesting company will go through the traditional U.S. GAO process, which only takes 100 days to adjudicate … Leonardo, which holds no sizable U.S. defense contracts and therefore has nothing to lose by breaking the system, has instead used legal actions that have dragged out over two years in its efforts to thwart the Army. Our military services deserve better than this. What’s needed now is more funding to enhance the training of our pilots and maintainers and the elimination of frivolous lawsuits from companies … who have become skilled at holding the services hostage whenever they a lose government contract. (Former Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) served as Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate. The Lakota helicopter is built in his home state of Mississippi by Airbus Helicopters Inc. in Columbus, Miss. In addition, Lott previously served on the EADS North America/Airbus Board of Directors and is currently a consultant to Airbus Group in the U.S.) (Source: The Hill opinion/blog 02/08/18)

AF’s first robotic surgery training

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The Air Force is increasingly using the latest technology in surgical robotics to train medical service personnel to provide access to the most advanced surgical procedures for patients. Major Joshua Tyler, director of surgical robotics at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., helped establish the Institute for Defense Robotic Surgical Education (InDoRSE). It is the first of its kind in the Air Force. The facility trains Air Force, Army, Navy and VA surgical teams (surgeons, nurses and techs) to use state-of-the-art medical robotics. Access to this type of training was previously only available through private industry. “Robotic surgery is becoming the standard of care for many specialties and procedures,” said Tyler. Robotic surgeries have been shown to deliver better outcomes for patients. It offers increased mobility, smaller incisions, and gives surgeons better visualization. Keelser’s InDoRSE was established in March 2017, but plans to double training capacity. (Source: Air Force Surgeon General 02/06/18)

Irritation over PE probe; T-45 fixes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Navy isn’t moving fast enough to fix the ongoing systemic Physiological Episode (PE) issues that have plagued fighter and trainer-pilots and flight students, according to some members on the House Armed Services Committee. The number of PEs has been on the rise over the last 10 years. The Navy was forced to deal with the issue in April 2017, when a group of more than 100 pilot-instructors – from Naval Air Stations Meridian, Miss.; Pensacola, Fla.; and Corpus Christi, Texas - refused to fly the T-45C Goshawk trainers due to safety concerns. Since then, the HASC’s tactical air and land forces subcommittee has held hearings but remains dissatisfied with the progress on solving the problem, Chairman Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) said Feb. 6. “This should not be a research project. This should be a fix-it project,” he said. In response, the head of the Navy Physiological Episode Action Team (PEAT), Rear Adm. Sara Joyner, told the subcommittee that Navy has brought its T-45 trainer fleet back to full pilot production levels with the installation of CRU-123 solid-state oxygen monitoring units. The units alert the aircrew if oxygen pressure falls and allows them more time to take corrective action to prevent a PE. Yet, the Navy is still wrestling with PE issues with F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet jets, and the EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft. (Source: USNI News 02/06/18)

 

Bipartisan Senate deal on budget

WASHINGTON – Senate leadership has reached an agreement Feb. 7 on a two-year budget deal, adding some $200B in federal spending. The bipartisan accord would lift statutory budget limits and provide tens of billions of dollars in disaster relief funding. Earlier in negotiations, despite hopes of a deal to keep the federal government operational – rather than having a second shutdown this year - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced early on Feb. 7 that “a large number” of fellow Democrats will oppose a spending deal unless guaranteed a vote on immigration legislation. The later-in-the-day agreement removed the immigration issue from the budget deal. Senate Democrats have no appetite for another shutdown, and had begun to de-link “Dreamers” from a budget deal to touting domestic federal spending; and kicking the immigration issue down the road. Without congressional action, the government will begin to shutdown at midnight Feb 8. (Source: Washington Post 02/027/18)

IAI-Stark to adapt to new US regs

Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) President/CEO Joseph Weiss announced plans to retire at a time when the company has achieved a record high backlog exceeding $11B, and deals securing years of operations for the international company. The success has cleared the way for already-underway changes, which are being driven by outside trends that include U.S. military assistance to Israel. A new 10-year MoU allocates $38B in U.S. funded military aid to Israel, but eliminates a half-billion previously directed at domestic military procurement in Israel. Starting in 2020, U.S-funded spending will be directed toward American companies. For IAI, it could mean a potential loss unless it sets its U.S.-based operations to conform with the new regulations. “We will make sure our U.S. based operation will become a fully qualified U.S. based supplier,” Weiss said. As part of some changes to its U.S. strategy, IAI is adapting its product range manufactured and marketed by its Columbus, Miss.-based Stark Aerospace and Maryland-based Elta North America. The updated “product mix” better addresses the asymmetric and hybrid type of warfare, and offering rapid delivery of technologically advanced, and operationally-proven solutions to meet emerging U.S. requirements, according to Weiss. IAI also plans to acquire an existing American company with an ongoing customer base that will provide stable business flow for its military and commercial aviation sectors. (Source: Aviation Week News 02/05/18) Stark Aerospace is a global aerospace defense contractor with its main facility located at Columbus’ Golden Triangle Regional Global Industrial Aerospace Park. Stark operates the following divisions: Unmanned Aerial Systems, sensors, production services and engineering.

Tupelo native promoted by MANG

JACKSON, Miss. – Tupelo native and Mississippi Air National Guard’s (MANG) Billy F. Murphy Jr. was promoted to the rank of colonel here Feb. 2 at the Mississippi National Guard Joint Force Headquarters. Murphy will begin serving as director of staff of the Mississippi Air National Guard. In that position, he will coordinate personnel, logistics, and operation matters with ANG Wings, HQ staff, and the assistant MANG adjutant general. Murphy is a graduate of Tupelo High School. He was commissioned as a naval officer through the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at the University of Mississippi in 1991. On active duty, Murphy took part in 49 combat flight missions in support of operations Southern Watch, Deny Flight, and Desert Strike in Southwest Asia. (Source: Daily Journal 02/02/18)

Hulon to become prez of CLCC

WESSON, Miss. – Copiah-Lincoln Community College, here in southwest Mississippi, has chosen an insider to become its new president beginning July 1. Trustees voted unanimously Feb. 1 to name Jane Hulon as its eighth president. She will become the first woman to lead the college. Hulon has worked at CLCC for 16 years, including 10 years as VP. She currently oversees the Wesson campus. The college also has campuses in Natchez and Mendenhall. Hulon holds a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi; and a doctorate from Mississippi State University. (Source: The Associated Press 02/01/18)

Aerospace project head scratcher

Mississippi state Rep. Jeff Smith (R-Columbus) told listeners of a radio show Jan. 25 about a major aerospace project, which could create 4,000 jobs, that was expected to come to Mississippi. State-wide economic development officials were left not only flat-footed, but scratching their collective heads. Golden Triangle Development LINK’s CEO, Joe Max Higgins, said: "We didn't know anything about it” and called the Mississippi Development Authority about the possible project. “Nobody knew anything about it." On the radio show, Rep. Smith said: "We have a rather large project looking at Mississippi and we're hoping they say 'yes’," he told radio host Paul Gallo. "It's aerospace, so that would eliminate 80 of the 82 counties" (Meaning: On either one on the Gulf Coast or Lowndes County). After the show, Smith was surprised when an MDA official called wanting to know the source of his information. Reached Feb. 1, Smith said the information came from Gov. Phil Bryant on Jan. 23 at a Republican caucus meeting. Higgins remains skeptical of the potential project. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 02/02/18)

Fort Polk commander moves

The chief of staff of the Army announced Feb. 2 that Maj. Gen. Gary M. Brito, commanding general of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, La., was being assigned as commanding general of the Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Ga. In the same announcement, Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Ky., was being reassigned as base and readiness training center commander at Fort Polk. (Source: DOD 02/02/18)

South’s wetland forests worth billions

The economic benefits of Louisiana’s wetland forests add up to $74.9B, according to an analysis reported by the Dogwood Alliance, a North Carolina-based environmental non-profit; but are disappearing. Estimates suggest that as much as 80 percent of habitat across the South has been lost. What remains is threatened by logging, agriculture, and urban development. Louisiana has 5.2M acres of wetland forests, including 260,000 acres in the Atchafalaya Swamp alone, said Sam Davis, research director and author of the report. "We shouldn't have to put a price tag on forests," he said. "But when we do, it shows just how valuable they are when we invest in their protection." Louisiana's wetland forests provide protection from extreme weather by absorbing water and slowing storm surge. That kind of protection is estimated to be worth $23.8B. Wetland forests also attract tourists, hunters, filter water, provide habitat for pollinators, and absorb carbon dioxide to aid with slowing climate change, he said. The combined value of these services is worth 15 times more than what wetland forest wood is valued for timber. (Source: NOLA.com 02/03/18) Mississippi’s wetland forests are worth $51B; Alabama’s $34.4B; and $80.8B in Florida.

Pilot recovering from brain surgery

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. – Walking into his backyard after an Easter egg hunt Capt. Hunter Barnhill’s hand formed a fist, holding itself with incredible and uncontrollable strength, he attempted to spread his fingers but instead fell to the ground in front of friends, and 2-year-old son Nolan. Friends came to his aid; and as quickly as the seizure occurred, it was over. “It was more frustrating than painful,” said Hunter, a 37th Flying Training Squadron instructor at CAFB. After Easter 2017, the Barnhill’s lives would change forever. Capt. Hunter went to the flight doctor, who sent him to a hospital for an MRI. Doctors found a brain tumor. He was to have surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital. Because of his young age and good health, the doctors were able to be aggressive throughout Hunter’s surgery and follow-on appointments. The surgery caused him to suffer from Supplementary Motor Area Syndrome; and left him unable to speak, and paralyzed on the right side. He was in physical and speech therapy for three months. During the healing process he read and tried memorizing scripture to help his mind physically and mentally recover. His wife, Crystal, agreed that scripture and faith played a large part in keeping positive, staying calm, and optimistic. Hunter is hopeful to make a full recovery and continue to serve as a pilot in the AF. During recovery, fellow airmen from his squadron and CAFB have helped the family tremendously, according to Crystal. He is currently preparing to attend the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program trials at Nellis AFB, Nev., where he will compete in events to earn a spot in the Defense Department’s Warrior Games and possibly the Invictus Games. (Source: Columbus AFB 02/02/18)

Gov’t shutdown #2 looming

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Another government shutdown deadline is looming Feb. 8. Republican leadership said Feb. 1 they will attempt to pass yet another short-term spending bill – continuing resolution (CR) - next week to keep the government operational. GOP leaders are eyeing a CR through March 22, although that date may change. The CR would have to pass early next week, ahead of Feb. 8’s midnight shutdown, when government funding run outs - if Congress doesn't act. The government shutdown three days in January that was precipitated by Senate Democrats' demands for protection for undocumented immigrants. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) insisted the government would stay open. (Source: Washington Post 02/01/18)

CAFB T-6 operations paused

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas – Major General Patrick Doherty, the 19th Air Force commander, has issued an operational pause for all T-6 Texan II operations to ensure aircrew safety after a number of pilot physiological events (PE) at Columbus AFB, Miss., Vance AFB, Okla., and Sheppard AFB, Texas, within the past week. Doherty directed the operational pause to begin Feb. 1 to enable the AF to examine the root causes of these PE incidents, educate and listen to aircrew, and develop and deliver mitigation solutions. The AF established a general officer-led team to integrate and coordinate efforts across the service to address aircrew unexplained PEs earlier this year. (Source: Air Education and Training Command 02/01/18)