Forging stronger EM partners

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Representatives from the Navy, Air National Guard, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, AmeriCorps, Federal Aviation Administration, and Monroe, Clay and Oktibbeha counties in Mississippi, gathered to discuss ways to forge stronger emergency management (EM) relationships between regional and state agencies. The product is of the Secretary of the Air Force’s Public-Public, Public-Private Partnership initiative. The community has been working with the “P4” initiative since early summer workshops facilitated by a Pentagon team. The 1st Air Force’s (AF Northern, which is based at Tyndall AFB, Fla.) Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer briefed here to capitalize on an opportunity to share the Defense Support to Civil Authorities topic with state and civil emergency management counterparts. The goal was designed to help involved agencies have a better understanding of operations between federal and civil assistance during a large scale disaster. MEMA response team provided an overview of its operations and after-action report from the Marine Corps’ KC-130 crash in Leflore County, Miss., back on July 10. The FAA's Aviation Safety Inspector also shared information on policy for unmanned aerial systems (drones) and how they can legally be used in support of emergency situations. (Source: 14th Fighter Training Wing 09/26/17)

‘Fat Albert’ remains in limbo

After more than two months since the crash of a Marine Corps KC-130T transport plane that killed all 16 personnel aboard on July 10 in northern Mississippi, the Navy and Marine Corps have yet to lift a no-fly order for 23 similar grounded aircraft. Those aircraft includes the Marines’ C-130T “Fat Albert” aircraft crew that provides logistics and transportation to the Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron based out of NAS Pensacola, Fla. Since the crash, Fat Albert has been absent from seven shows across the country. Similar Navy and Marine Corps Reserve unit aircraft have also been grounded. For the Blue Angels, the absence of “Fat Albert’s” presents a logistics and transportation issue. The C-130T flies some 35,000 pounds of gear, and a 40-person maintenance technician team to those show locations. Blue Angels spokesman Lt. Joe Hontz said the team is currently utilizing C-130J Super Hercules from various Marine squadrons to transport equipment and personnel, and some Navy C-40 Clipper aircraft for longer hauls. It remains unclear when the aircraft will resume normal operations. The investigation into the crash over Mississippi, which officials said occurred after something went wrong at cruising altitude, remains ongoing. No findings have been made public. (Source: Military.com 09/28/17) Gulf Coast Note: The Marine Corps crash occurred between the communities of Itta Bena and Moorhead, in the Mississippi Delta.

GC Navy sailors join Comfort

The Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) is gearing up with supplies and personnel to respond to the humanitarian needs in Puerto Rico. The ship is preparing to get underway by Sept. 30, according to a Defense Department spokesperson. Comfort is taking on supplies and boarding personnel at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The ship is an afloat, mobile, acute surgical facility, providing a level of medical care found at a major shore-base Navy medicine hospitals. Comfort’s homeport is in Baltimore, Md. During normal pier side operations, Comfort has some 50 personnel who crew the ship, keeping it ready to deploy. When activated, according to the Navy, Comfort’s crew grows to about 1,200 personnel. (Source: Maritime Herald 09/27/18) Gulf Coast Note: The Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla., command has 19 sailors, including numbers from its Naval Branch Health Clinics at Meridian, Miss., and Millington, Tenn., joing up with Comfort in Norfolk. The Gulf Coast NavMed specialties include nurses, corpsmen, pediatrician, family medicine physician, and culinary specialists. The senior officer and senior enlisted person are Cmdr. Kathryn Garner, a medical-surgical nurse, and Chief Hospital Corpsman Jonathan Pruss., according to a spokesperson with NH Pensacola.

Prof’s wind-turbine UAS research

Embry-Riddle Aeronautics University in St. Lucie County, Fla., used a small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to study the effects of wind turbines at two Midwestern farmlands. Research found that wind turbines can impact soil, crops and livestock. He and colleague Adrian Sescu, an assistant professor of aerospace engineering at Mississippi State University, published those findings in the International Journal of Green Energy. Farmers can earn extra income by allowing wind turbines to be placed in fields. Based on data collected from the drone, researchers discovered weather conditions and the direction of spinning blades can positively or negatively impact crops, including inhibiting crop disease during wet weather or speeding up moisture loss during droughts. The drone was equipped with GPS and a suite of instruments to capture temperature and relative humidity levels. Most prior research of wind-turbine impacts on near-surface meteorology have been based on computer modeling. The use of the drone “provides proof of concept for a platform that can also be used for the measurement of other atmospheric parameters with high spatial resolution,” the researchers wrote. (Source: UAS Magazine 09/27/17)

Flag of many firsts to retire

NAPLES, Italy - Adm. Michelle Howard, the first woman to become a four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy, will end her 35-year naval career when she retires by January. Howard, 57, will relinquish command of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples to Vice Adm. James Foggo, who will be promoted to admiral, when he takes command Oct. 20. Howard has commanded naval forces in Africa and Europe since June 2016. Her career is filled by many Navy firsts. In 2014, she became the first four-star flag officer when she took the reins of Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Two years later, she was head of the the Europe-and-Africa command becoming the first female four-star to command operational forces. She was the first black woman to achieve two-star rank. In 1999, Howard was the first African-American woman to command a Navy combat ship, the dock-landing ship USS Rushmore. Howard also planned the 2009 mission to rescue Capt. Richard Phillips from Somali pirates who seized his cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden. (Source: Stars and Stripes 09/26/17) Gulf Coast Note: Howard was a junior officer aboard the training aircraft carrier USS Lexington (AVT 16) when it was based out of Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. NAS Meridian, Miss., flight students used the 'Lady Lex' for landing qualifications. USS Rushmore was built at Avondale (La.) Shipyards.

L3 protesting Army contract loss

NEW YORK - L3 Technologies announced Sept. 25 that it has filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) related to the selection of an aviation maintenance and support contract at Fort Rucker, Ala. L3 has been the contractor since 2003. “We are convinced our proposal represents the best value to both the military and the U.S. taxpayers,” said Christopher E. Kubasik, L3’s President/CEO. “We look forward to the GAO’s review.” Mark Von Schwarz, L3’s senior VP and president of the Aerospace Systems business segment, added that “L3 remains fully committed to serving the U.S. Army and Air Force at Fort Rucker, and the protest will not affect current operations.” Despite the apparent loss, the company still expects to record an impairment charge during the quarter ending Sept. 29, 2017, for a substantial portion of the Vertex Aerospace business goodwill asset of $187 million. The company is assessing the impact of the re-competition loss on the fair value of Vertex, which will ultimately determine the goodwill impairment charge. L3 Technologies employs some 38,000 people worldwide. (Source: Digital Journal 09/25/17) Gulf Coast Note: L3 has regional facility sites at the Army Fleet Support center at Fort Rucker; Crestview, Fla., Aerospace, and Vertex Aerospace in Madison, Miss.

Oxford firm earns hangar pact

Carothers Construction Inc. of Oxford, Miss., was awarded a $22,667,877 firm-fixed-price contract for renovation of three existing hangars at the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Air Reserve Station. Work will be performed in Coraopolis, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2018. FY 2017 Army operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $22,667,877 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD 09/21/17

AF to conduct S&T review

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson, speaking here at the Air Force Association's annual Air, Space and Cyber conference Sept. 18, announced the AF will conduct a 12-month Science and Technology (S&T) review to update its research priorities and strategy. The review will focus on how the service conducts and manages research, and where the service should prioritize research for the next decade and beyond. The Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, will lead the review. The Air Force Scientific Advisory board will conduct a parallel effort and provide feedback and advice throughout the process. The Air Force Studies board of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine will also conduct at least one workshop to provide input to the effort. All efforts are intended to be input for an updated science and technology strategy. The AF will also provide small grants to universities to sponsor regional workshops in partnership with American universities to gather input from academic researchers. (Source: Secretary of the Air Force 09/18/17) Gulf Coast Note: Mississippi State University has been working with the Defense Department over many years. In May 2017, MSU was awarded a $9,843,755 contract to continue Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Command’s simulation-based reliability and safety program of modeling and simulation, and vehicle reliability prediction. Work is ongoing in Starkville, Miss. The estimated completion date is May 2022.

T-45C instructors conduct quals

ATLANTIC OCEAN - Instructors from Training Air Wings 1 and 2 - at NAS Kingsville and Meridian respectively - concluded Carrier Qualifications Sept. 16-17 flying T-45C Goshawks aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). The evolution allowed shipboard sailors to practice launching and recovering aircraft while preparing instructors, and instructors-under-training, to teach the Navy's newest pilots. "This is the instructors' initial carrier qualification in the T-45 as an instructor," said Lt. Cmdr. Ronnie Dale Stahl Jr., a landing signal officer in charge of safety during carrier “quals” for the Navy. The requalification process involved some 28 instructors from four squadrons: VT-7 and VT-9 from NAS Meridian; and VT-21 and VT-22 NAS Kingsville, Texas. Over two days they combined to complete 112 traps and 56 "touch-and-goes" from the carrier. (Source: USS Truman 09/18/17) T-45s from Kingsville and Meridian; and NAS Pensacola, Fla., had cockpit oxygen issues back in April 2017 that forced to standdown of all T-45 training at the three bases. The Navy has continued to seek resolutions, but allowed T-45 training to resume in July.

Northrop to buy Orbital ATK

Defense contractor Northrop Grumman is acquiring space-focused Orbital ATK for about $7.8B. The deal will give NG a major role in space and missiles. Orbital, based in Dulles, Va., makes rocket motors and designs and produces launch vehicles. The deal comes as the Pentagon increasingly looks at space as a battle front. It gives Falls Church, Va.-based Northrop Grumman missile, satellite and rocket capabilities. The Orbital purchase ranks as the largest defense deal since Lockheed Martin bought Sikorsky from United Technologies Corp. Orbital and ATK merged in 2014. (Source: LA Times 09/18/17) Gulf Coast Note: Buying Orbital will make Northrop the fourth largest defense contractor displacing Raytheon. Orbital ATK has an Aerospace Structures’ Flight Systems facility located in Iuka, Miss. Northrop Grumman has Gulf Coast facilities at Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, Moss Point and Gulfport, Miss.; and Lake Charles and New Orleans, La.

Keesler nurse earns AFA award

Five Air Education and Training Command personnel and an AETC unit were honored for outstanding achievement at the opening ceremonies of the 2017 Air Force Association Air Space and Cyber Conference on Sept. 18 in Maryland. Among Gulf Coast regional winners was First Lt. Casey Owen of 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., who received the Juanita Redmond Award for work in delivering high quality healthcare and mentoring fellow officers and enlisted personnel. The award is given to an AF company grade officer-nurse who provided a significant contribution to the healthcare of an individual or family, excellence in clinical nursing or improvement in nursing care. Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, commander/president of Air University at Maxwell AFB, Ala., received the Vandenberg Award for educating Airmen under his command. The Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development at Air University-Maxwell received the Gen. Mark A. Welsh III One Air Force Award for innovative process and course consolidation of officer accession and professional development training programs. (Source: AETC 09/19/17)

'Hunters' survey Hurricane Maria

Hurricane Maria, a Category 2 storm, will hit the Leeward Islands on the edge of the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 18 threatening areas that are still coping with the devastation brought by Hurricane Irma two weeks ago. Predictions call for it to pass straight over Puerto Rico on Sept. 20. The hurricane is headed in a NNW direction. The Keesler AFB, Miss.-based reserve unit known as the “Hurricane Hunters” flew on a route in and around Hurricane Maria on Sept. 18 to investigate the storm's development, according to the hurricane center. (Source: NPR 09/18/17)

MS Granny earns Irma contract

The U.S. government has purchased nearly $614.3M in contracts as of Sept. 14, and since Hurricanes Harvey and Irma pummeled Texas and Florida, according to the Federal Procurement Data System, which compiles government-wide contracts. Contract awards are expected to grow. Among the recipients of these contracts are big players, including medical device maker Medtronic, General Dynamics, and smaller outfits, like Granny's Alliance Holdings of Pass Christian, Miss., a women-owned company that provides equipment and services for disasters such as portable showers and laundry services. Granny’s got $8.7M to help in eastern Florida. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, contractors won $20.4B in government monies to repair devastation across the Gulf Coast. Early estimates of Harvey and Irma devastation may cost up to $200B, according to Moody's Analytics. Katrina resulted in $160B, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Congress has appropriated $7.9B in emergency financing to date for the latest hurricanes. That number is expected to multiply. The Florida-based subsidiary of Gibbco got $74.3M to build mobile homes. When possible, local businesses are to receive preference for awards. In the case of Harvey contracts, roughly 16 percent of bids were awarded to Texas-based firms. The share of Florida firms has received only 7 percent of total funds for Irma's aftermath so far. (Source: CNN Money 09/15/17)

MDA signs MoU with India group

MUMBAI, India – The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to nurture, enhance and sustain mutually beneficial economic ties. IACC signed the agreement ahead of its flagship annual convention here Sept. 18-19. N.V. Srinivasan, IAAC national president, and Glenn McCullough, Jr., MDA’s executive director were the principal signees. Both IACC and MDA will assist each in organizing business delegations and facilitate business interest, facilitate export and import of goods and services and encourage collaborative efforts to enhance business development objectives. The organizations will help each other in participation in trade fairs, conferences in the respective areas of operation. (Source: India Blooms 09/13/17)

Duo call for revised BRAC ’19

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – On the 16th anniversary of 9/11, U.S. Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) filed an amendment Sept. 11 to the Senate’s defense authorization bill for FY 2018 to authorize a round of base closures and realignments starting in 2019. Military installations are considered prized possessions in some congressional districts, so getting fellow lawmakers to agree will be a challenge. Reed claimed the duo’s approach for BRAC addresses concerns with the 2005 round - cost and the need to close excess installations. The estimated cost of implementing BRAC would be capped at $5B, and the list of submitted recommendations would have to yield net-savings within seven years of completing the closures, according to the amendment. The duo also proposed doing away with the closure commission, requiring the Defense Department to submit recommendations to Congress. The Government Accountability Office would review the list and Congress could amend it. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has said that closing excess installations would save $10B over five years. The White House wants a new round of base closings to start in 2021. The GOP-led House rejected that request in July. (Source: Defense News 09/13/17)

Budget for industrial park, EMCC

Supervisors finalized the Oktibbeha County, Miss., $56.46 million FY 2018 budget Sept. 12 that carries a 1.83-mill tax increase (or $18.30) for property owners in outlying areas who do not live within the municipalities of Starkville, Sturgis or Maben. They will be paying at a rate of 123.57 in ad valorem taxes – up from FY 2017’s rate of 121.74 mills. Residents living with those towns will be paying at a 120.91-mill level. Nearly $21M of the country’s $56.46M budget is for bond-funded capital improvements, including $7M for the Golden Triangle Development LINK-backed industrial park, and a $14.5M infrastructure improvement package -- will be serviced by 5.15 combined mills. A new addition to the budget includes a 0.48-mill levy to fund a portion of East Mississippi Community College's Communiversity project in Lowndes County. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 09/13/17) Work on the East Mississippi Community College's "Communiversity" should begin this fall. Bid advertisements went out Sept. 1. The Communiversity will host manufacturing and technical training-based programs at a 30-acre site in Lowndes County. EMCC offers course work in engineering, physics, and polymer science. In addition to general workforce training, area industries will use bays at the site to train employees on their own equipment. The project should take about two years to construct. EMCC hopes to have it open by fall 2018. The Sept. 1 bids are to be opened Oct. 6.

Top states for doing business

New corporate business locations and expansions create jobs, expand and diversify tax bases for every state in the U.S. Today, there is more attention paid to how states held onto and supported businesses during the Great Recession. In turn, states are more motivated to attract, diversify, and support new companies; and stand out from competing states. Economic development is more competitive than it has ever been. Standard incentives don’t cut the mustard anymore. It’s a buyer’s market. Firms don’t mind telling states what they want out of a deal. States are offering incentive packages with discounts, credits, tax breaks, free land, and infrastructure, faster permitting, energy discounts, shovel-ready sites, creative funding options, and workforce training. But what companies want is a state willing to be a proactive partner. With that in mind, the Area Development website has issued its “Top States for Doing Business” survey results for 2017. The No. 1 overall state is Georgia. Among Gulf Coast states and their rankings was Louisiana (5); Alabama (6); Mississippi (9); and Florida (12). Source: Area Development 09/12/17)

Moody assets pre-position at CAFB

MOODY AFB, Ga. - Moody Air Force Base aircraft and rescue assets were relocated Sept. 9 to Columbus AFB, Miss., before Hurricane Irma’s arrival to the Gulf Coast of Florida. The aircraft and rescue assets will remain at CAFB before re-engaging with other Moody AFB assets to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other first responder agencies, during upcoming Hurricane Irma relief operations in the Southeast. (Source: 23rd Wing 09/11/17)

AF aeromed teams on Irma standby

KEESLER AFB, Miss. - Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) and a medical logistics team from the 81st Medical Group at Keesler Air Force Base are on standby if requested to support Hurricane Irma relief efforts. The teams returned home recently from a deployment to Houston in support of Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The 81st MDG teams are part of the Air Force’s aeromedical evacuation system. The CCATT typically consists of physicians specializing in critical care, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, surgery and cardio-pulmonology. If deployed to Florida, the teams’ mission would be to operate a flying hospital, transporting patients requiring advanced medical care. A 28-person patient-staging team from Keesler AFB could also be called up to assist. (Source: 81st Training Wing 09/10/17)

MSU selected for ASF pprogram

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University junior and senior students are now eligible for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s merit-based scholarship that provides $10,000. MSU is joining 35 other U.S. research universities, and is one of five recently added to the ASF program. Selected universities must have undergraduate and graduate research programs with histories of producing significant numbers of professional and academic scientists, engineers, and researchers. MSU is the only university in Mississippi taking part in the ASF program. MSU will host astronauts Charlie Duke and Fred Haise, a Biloxi native, for an Oct. 11 presentation about their space experiences and the new ASF partnership. The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium. (Source: MSU 09/08/17)

‘Hunters’ flying hurricanes duty

For the last several days, five airmen from the Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, or 'Hurricane Hunters,' have flown six missions in their specialized WC-130J in and out of Hurricane Irma, which is expected to make landfall in Florida on Sept. 9. "Irma has potential to do a lot more damage, unfortunately," said Maj. Jonathan Brady, aerial reconnaissance weather officer, otherwise known as an airborne meteorologist, based with the squadron from Keesler AFB, Miss. The Hunters are up for Irma now, and have flown at least two missions into Hurricane Katia, which is off the coast of Mexico. The squadron anticipates flying into Hurricane Jose, which is following Irma’s footprint, in the next few days. (Source: Military.com 09/07/17)

NAVFAC call center to NASP

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast Regional Call Center (RCC) personnel are heading to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Sept. 8, to relocate operations before Hurricane Irma reaches the Jacksonville, Fla., area. The RCC is a 24/7 operation supporting more than 16 naval installations across the Southeast that centralize the unplanned facilities’ maintenance work reception process. NASP is considered a prime location to relocate the RCC because there are existing facilities available that provide easy relocation and set up. With Hurricane Irma, the projected path does not show it likely to impact NASP. A part of the RCC team are heading to NASP while the remaining members will stay in Jacksonville to maintain call center coverage and support during the transition of telephone lines to and from Pensacola. (Source: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast 09/08/17) Gulf Coast Note: NAVFAC Southeast also provides support to NAS Meridian and Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport in Mississippi.

MP econ team among Top 10

Mississippi Power Company’s Economic Development department was ranked among the “Top 10 Utility Economic Development Teams in the United States” by Site Selection magazine. The department’s participation in corporate facility projects, job creation and renewable energy projects in South Mississippi were highlighted in the magazine. The MP department partnered with several agencies to organize the Mississippi Aerospace and Defense Symposium, aimed at showcasing the many aerospace and defense assets in South Mississippi. It’s the second time since 2008 that the magazine has recognized the Mississippi Power department. (Source: Hattiesburg American 09/08/17)

NASM JLUS recommendations

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Miss. - Representatives from Lauderdale and Kemper counties, and the cities of Meridian and Marion accepted the 86 non-binding Defense Department recommendations from a federally funded Joint Land Use Study for Naval Air Station Meridian. Some recommendations are designed to help government leaders, while providing buffer zones around NASM, to develop policies or codes that may avoid development of new subdivisions, hospitals, nursing homes or even tall structures like towers that are too close to NAS Meridian installations. "This is just the beginning," says Dr. George Thomas, a member of the Joint Use Land Study Committee. "It's critical for us," says NAS Meridian's Commander, Capt. Brian Horstman. "Without working with our neighboring local counties, we can't do our work. We don't just operate in the fence lines." The next step is for local governments to decide what action, if any, they will take regarding the proposals. NASM, based on 2015 figures, provides a $430M total contribution to the regional economy. (Source: WTOK 09/07/17)

Stark aero management search

Stark Aerospace in Columbus, Miss., is a global aerospace contractor with a portfolio that includes unmanned aerial systems, commercial aviation, wiring, sensors, engineering, and field service. Stark is in the process of searching for seasoned professionals for the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer for the Columbus facility, which is located at the GTR Global Industrial Aerospace Park. (Source: Stark Aerospace 09/2017)

MS firm: Border Wall contractor

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency announced Aug. 31 that contracts have been awarded for concrete prototypes of the Border Wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Companies selected to construct concrete border wall prototypes include W. G. Yates & Sons Construction of Philadelphia, Miss.; Caddell Construction of Montgomery, Ala.; Fisher Sand & Gravel of Tempe, Ariz.; and Texas Sterling of Houston. CBP will make a decision on an “other materials” Request For Proposal (RFP) next week. CBP officials will meet with vendors and determine construction timelines. CBP is expecting construct prototypes in the fall.(Source CBP 08/31/17)

CCATT providing air care in Texas

KEESLER AFB, Miss. - An Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) and a supporting logistics team from Keesler AFB are at George H. Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The CCATT is made up of three members from the 81st Medical Operations Squadron: Maj. (Dr.) Allison Buel, critical care nurse Maj. Douglas Wilkerson, and respiratory therapist Staff Sgt. Kyle Gabrielson. “Our primary mission here will be to fly patients from the Houston area out to a receiving hospital somewhere in the country to ensure they get the care they need,” said Wilkerson. The logistics team from the 81st Medical Support Squadron is made up of medical logisticians Senior Airmen Dustin Lewis, and Jason Rambo. (Source: Keesler AFB 08/31/17)

UPDATE: CAFB trio cut from AGT

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Three members of the 14th Student Squadron (STUS) at CAFB are in the semifinals of “America’s Got Talent,” a nationally televised talent competition. When the competition started in March, all 16 members of the singing group, “In the Stairwell,” were cadets at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. Since then, five have graduated and are commissioned officers. Second Lts. Ryan Douglas, Colin Klopp and John Testerman are assigned to 14th STUS. The group has survived three rounds of competition, and the first round of the live shows. All three rounds have taken place in Los Angeles. The group will appear in the live semifinals show Sept. 12. After the show, Douglas, Klopp and Testerman will resume pilot training, and start Initial Flight Training at the Academy later in September. After IFT, the trio will begin Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB. (Source: 14th Flying Training Wing 08/31/17) UPDATE: The AF singing group, "In The Starwell," was among those not making the finals of AGT on Sept. 12's show.