L-3 Vertex T-1A pact: $97M+

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace of Madison, Miss., has been awarded a $97,491,260 firm-fixed-price contract for contractor operated and maintained base supply of the Air Education and Training Command’s fleet of 178 T-1A trainer aircraft. Work will be performed at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.; Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.; Randolph and Laughlin AFBs in Texas; and Vance AFB, Okla., with an expected completion date of Nov. 30, 2019. This award for Option One is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. FY 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount $48,288,767 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center of Tinker AFB, Okla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 11/30)

Tyndall AFB to host Combat Archer

Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida – devastated by Hurricane Michael - is preparing for its first post-hurricane Combat Archer exercise, according to AF officials, from between Dec. 3-14. The base’s 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group will conduct the live-fire training exercise; and will be supported by the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, which will launch and control QF-16 aerial targets. Boeing recently delivered a new QF-16 to the squadron, marking an important milestone on the road to Tyndall’s recovery. The 82nd ATS currently has 18 QF-16s, six of which are unmanned, but all have been modified to be flown remotely. Combat Archer is a training event that evaluates operational fighter squadrons' readiness for combat operations. The program tests all phases of the real-world mission, from weapons loading to air-to-air combat. The AF also recently announced that the 53rd WEG’s mission, and the Combat Archer training event, will remain at Tyndall. The base has more than 2,000 personnel presently onboard, nearly half of them originally from Tyndall. (Source: Air Force Times 11/29/18) Sidebar: AF Col. David W. Abba has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. He currently serves as commander of 53rd Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla. The 53rd WEG at Tyndall is one of the wing’s subordinate commands.

5 sentenced over camp explosion

DALLAS – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency joined law enforcement partners, from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana, Defense Department, U. S. Army, Department of Transportation, FBI, and Louisiana State Police, in announcing Nov. 30 the sentencing of five defendants for their role in a case involving Explo Systems Inc., a private company involved in the demilitarization of military munitions. Explo Systems’ mismanagement of military munitions resulted in the detonation at a storage facility at Camp Minden, La., on Oct. 15, 2012. The explosion damaged buildings in a four-mile radius, derailed 11 rail cars, and felt up to 35 miles away. In addition, an investigation revealed that Explo Systems had illegally disposed of hazardous waste resulting in over $38M of cleanup costs to tax payers. For their role in a criminal conspiracy, U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over hearings and sentenced five defendants: Co-owner David Alan Smith of Winchester, Ky.; Vice President of Operations William Terry Wright of Bossier City, La.; Director of Support Technology Charles Ferris Callihan of Shreveport, La.; Demilitarization Program Manager Kenneth Wayne Lampkin and Traffic and Inventory Control Manager Lionel Wayne Koons, both of Haughton, La. (Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana 11/30/18)

T-6A contract includes CAFB

Scientific Research Corp. of Atlanta, has been awarded an $11,966,292 firm-fixed-price contract to exercise option one in previously awarded contract FA8617-17-C-6227 for T-6A aircraft kit production and installation. Work will be performed at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.; Vance AFB, Okla.; Laughlin AFB and Sheppard AFB, Texas; Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., and Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 1, 2020. FY 2019 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $11,966,292 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Nov. 26, 2018). (Source: DoD 11/29/18)

N.O. Marine nominated for 2nd star

Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis announced Nov. 28 that the president has nominated Marine Corps Reserve Brig. Gen. Bradley S. James for appointment to the rank of major general. James is currently serving as the commander, Marine Corps Forces Reserve; Commander Marine Corps Forces North; and commanding general of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Corps Forces Reserve at New Orleans. (Source: DoD 11/28/18)

CAFB duo cultivating women pilots

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Eighteen Air Education and Training Command instructor pilots gathered in Oklahoma City, Okla., from Nov. 16-18, for the second annual AETC Women’s Fly-In training event. The training was organized by Lean In and Supergirls chapters from AETC bases with the goal of lessening the mentorship gap for women in the Air Force. Capts. Katy Boshears and Afton Brown of Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., put the new 14th Flying Training Wing mission of Cultivating Airmen and Connecting into practice for the annual professional development event. “(W)omen bring a different perspective to flying,” she said, “and with so few of us in each of our respective organizations, it's important to create an opportunity for us to come together to share struggles, successes, and resources.” A 2018 RAND study showed that past the initial 13-year pilot training commitment, only 39 percent of rated women in the AF choose to continue compared to 63 percent of males. Six percent of the 730 active duty AF pilots are women. The CAFB duo helped build on last year’s fly-in when 10 female IPs from Vance AFB came to Columbus to present a talk on intra-gender communication, hold discussions, and provide mentoring opportunities. In 2019, Brown and Boshears hope to expand the event to include men and women from all AETC bases with the ultimate goal, they say, to connect women, enable mentorship, and to inspire the next generation to pursue and achieve their professional and personal goals. (Source: CAFB 11/27/18)

T-X trainer to CAFB after 2023

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Boeing Co., following an Air Force contract award for the service’s new T-X trainer, is moving ahead with plans to begin full operational capability in 2034, a company executive told reporters here Nov. 27 at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference. In September, the Air Force awarded the Boeing-Saab team a contract worth up to $9.2B to develop the a next-generation jet pilot trainer aircraft that is to replace the AF’s T-38C Talons. The first batch of systems is expected to be sent to Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, in 2023. Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Sheppard AFB, Texas, and Vance AFB, Okla., are also to make a switch from the T-38 to the T-X. The Air Force contract is for 351 T-X aircraft, 46 simulators, and associated ground equipment, but also allows the service to purchase up to 475 aircraft and 120 simulators. (Source: National Defense 11/28/18)

AFRC changing med processes

ROBINS AFB, Ga. - Col. John Buterbaugh took the helm as command surgeon here at the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) in late summer, and outlined four initiatives to make changes to improve processes for some 70,000 reservist-citizens serving around the world. In an Aug. 28 letter, Buterbaugh outlined the initiatives to increase medical readiness that included eliminating medical case backlogs, removing mental health requirement differences between Active Duty and Reservists, providing more full-time medical staff at local units, and increasing decision-making ability on medical cases at the wing and squadron levels. “The current Reserve medical system is out of step” with the mission and the reservists, Buterbaugh wrote. It has “negatively affected” medical readiness, and decreased the ability of the AF Reserve to “take the fight to the enemy,” he wrote. The aligning of mental health requirements initiative has seen the most progress and has affected the largest number of reservists. The standards are now the same, and some have been eliminated. The changes also affected the Guard. (Source: Air Force Reserve Command 11/27/18)

Brown's wingman ship commissioning

The Navy’s newest guided-missile destroyer, the future USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), is scheduled to be introduced to the active fleet Dec. 1 during a commissioning ceremony in South Boston. The ship arrived at Flynn Cruiseport Boston via Castle Island on Nov. 26 in preparation for the ceremony. The ship, which was built in Bath, Maine, is the namesake of the late Capt. Thomas J. Hudner Jr. A Fall River, Mass., native. Hudner was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1951 about four months after he intentionally crash-landed his plane into a snowy mountain in an attempt to save his wounded wingman, Ensign Jesse Brown of Hattiesburg, Miss., during the Korean War. Brown was the first African-American naval pilot and the first to be killed in combat. Before Hudner died in November 2017, at age 93, he wrote a letter to then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus asking him to consider naming a new destroyer after Brown. The future USS Thomas Hudner will be the 66th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to be commissioned into the Navy. The destroyer’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Nathan Scherry, and the ship’s 310 officers and enlisted personnel will accept the duties of running and maintaining the destroyer as the commissioning pennant is raised for the first time around 9 a.m. (CT) Saturday, officials said. (Source: Boston Globe 11/26/18) A previous ship (FFT 1089) had been named for the Mississippi native. It was decommissioned at NAS Pensacola, Fla., and afterwards was commissioned into the Egyptian Navy. Prior to decommissioning, the ship was homeported at the former Naval Station Mobile, Ala. The commissioning ceremony will be live-streamed at https://www.navy.mil/ah_online/live/ah-live.asp

MSU cadets earn nat’l honors

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State University’s Air Force ROTC again is receiving accolades with the selection of two cadets for top national honors. Senior mathematics major Cadet Courtney Conway is the only cadet in the U.S. receiving the 2018 Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association’s Honor Award. The award is given to top graduating cadets in electrical engineering or communications sciences. AFCEA awards recognize ROTC graduates in each service who demonstrate excellence in military and academic performance. Conway, an Oxford, Miss., native, plans to graduate in December. Additionally, Conway and fellow AFROTC Cadet Sarah Doll, a senior criminology major from Charleston, S.C., both are selections for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The federal law enforcement agency investigates federal level crimes within the Air Force. After completing AFOSI training, Conway and Doll will join the group as career Air Force officers. They are among 22 ROTC cadets in the nation chosen from a pool of applicants from 145 AFROTC units. (Source: Mississippi State University 11/20/18)

Six F-22 Raptors return to Florida

Six Air Force F-22 Raptors that were evacuated days before Hurricane Michael ravaged Tyndall Air Force Base last month returned Nov. 20 to Florida. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson tweeted on Nov. 21 that the fifth-generation Raptors arrived at nearby Eglin Air Force Base to begin F-22 schoolhouse operations. Earlier this month, Wilson outlined a plan to return some airmen and duties to Tyndall, and to temporarily relocate others. The 43rd and 2nd Fighter squadrons' F-22 fighter training units, and 372nd Training Squadron detachment, were moving to nearby Eglin AFB. But the other F-22s and airmen with the 95th Fighter Squadron that fled from the storm aren’t currently coming back to Florida, but it was unclear when or if that may change. (Source: Air Force Times 11/21/18)

Navy Lodge offers holiday discounts

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Navy Lodges are offering 20 percent off holiday room reservations at select facilities between Nov. 22 and Jan. 2, 2019. Participating Navy Lodges for the promotion include: Gulfport, Miss.; Memphis, Tenn.; Pensacola, Mayport, and Jacksonville in Florida; Annapolis, Bethesda and Patuxent River Maryland.; Fort Worth and Corpus Christi, Texas; Lemoore, El Centro, Port Hueneme, Moffett Field and Monterey, Calif.; Great Lakes, Ill.; Fallon, Nev.; Washington, D.C.; New London, Conn.; New York; Newport, R.I.; Everett and Whidbey Island, Wash.; Kings Bay, Ga.; and Norfolk and Little Creek-Fort Story, Va. As an added bonus, dogs and cats up to 70 pounds can stay at most Navy Lodges when traveling with owners. Guests need to contact the specific Navy Lodge regarding pet policies. Reservations need to be made online at navy-lodge.com or dodlodging.com to receive the discount. (Source: Navy Exchange 11/19/18)

EPA awards La. lead-paint grant

DALLAS – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Louisiana’s Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) a $189,805 grant for lead paint programs. LDEQ will use the grant for administration and enforcement of lead-based paint programs, including the training of workers involved in lead-based paint abatement, accrediting trainers, certifying contractors, and establishing workplace standards in housing built before 1978, when lead paint was banned. Lead-based paint can still be present in homes, schools, and workplaces built before 1978. Lead can affect almost every organ and system in the body. Children six years old and younger are most susceptible, which include behavior and learning problems, lower IQ, hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, and anemia. (Source: US EPA 11/19/18)

Study: Drones vs. bird impacts

Small drone impacts may cause more damage to manned aircraft than bird strikes, according to the conclusions of a study by the University of Dayton (Ohio) Research Institute’s (UDRI) Impact Physics group. Researchers evaluated damage a 2.1-pound DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter could have on the leading edge of a Mooney M20 wing compared to an identically-weighted gel bird. The tests simulated the impact of both on the wing at an impact speed of 238 mph. According to UDRI: The bird did more apparent damage to the leading edge of the wing, but the drone “penetrated deeper into the wing and damaged the main spar, which the bird did not do.” The UDRI group routinely performs sponsored bird-strike testing of aircraft. The study was conducted to assist the aviation and drone communities “understand the dangers that even recreational drones can pose to manned aircraft before a significant event occurs,” said Kevin Poormon, group leader for the study. (Source: AIN Online 11/02/18)

SECAF: 3-to-5 yrs to rebuild Tyndall

It will take three to five years to repair the damages to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., from the devastation of Hurricane Michel on Oct. 10. The storm damage to 95 percent of the buildings on base, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said at a Nov. 15 Defense One summit. The AF is also assessing what buildings to repair and which to rebuild. Several missions will return to the base, including the simulator portion of the F-22 training and the Air Operations Center that should be operational by January. Eglin AFB will take Tyndall's F-22 flying training unit. SECAF Wilson noted that all F-22s that remained on base during the storm have flown. (Source: Inside Defense 11/15/18)

Ex-NASM instructor to lead VT-9

Training Squadron 9 (VT-9) at Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., is holding a change of command ceremony Nov. 16. Cmdr. John Eveges will be relieved of command by Cmdr. Brian Baumgaertner. Cmdr. Baumgaertner was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in April 2002 at NAS Pensacola, Fla.; and designated a Naval Aviator in 2004. In May 2008, Baumgaertner reported to VT-7 at NAS Meridian, where he was designated an instructor pilot in the T-45C Goshawk. In August 2015, Baumgaertner reported to Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and earned his master's in Military Operational Art and Science. Baumgaertner comes to Mississippi from the U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Md., where he served as the Deputy Division Chief for simulation and exercises. He has more than 3,300 hours in various Navy and Air Force aircraft, and more than 245 carrier arrested landings. Eveges served as the CO since August 2017, and will retire after 20 years of service. (Source: Meridian Star 11/15/18)

Environmental grants' availability

DALLAS – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Nov. 15 the availability of $1.5M for Environmental Justice Small Grants (EJSG). These funds will go to about 50 community-based organizations across the country that will work to address environmental justice issues in their communities. Each recipient will receive up to $30,000 for one-year, community-driven projects that engage, educate, and empower communities to better understand environmental and public health issues, and to identify ways to address them locally. “EPA is committed to assisting low-income and disadvantaged communities that are often disproportionally impacted by environmental risks or hazards,” said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. The grants are designed to assist communities to address environmental challenges, such as reducing air pollution, combating lead exposure, and improving water quality. This year’s environmental grants will also include $300,000 in support from EPA’s Urban Waters program. The application period for the 2018 EJSG is open until Feb. 15, 2019. All eligible organizations are encouraged to apply. (EPA 11/15/18)

Thunderbirds’ Biloxi show changed

BILOXI, Miss. - The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team's Biloxi air show has been moved back nearly a half-month in the spring of 2019 to avoid conflict with other events in the area during the original April 13-14 date, according to a media release from Keesler Air Force Base. The show will now be May 4-5 at Keesler AFB and over the Mississippi Sound. The event was originally scheduled in April, which is the spring break and Black Beach Weekend at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.The Thunderbirds last performed in Biloxi in 2015. (Source: Sun Herald 11/14/18)

Vertex $25M pact for C-12 support

Vertex Aerospace LLC of Madison, Miss., has been awarded a $35,000,000 firm-fixed- price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract modification to contracts FA8106-17-D-0001 for contractor logistic support of the Air Force C-12 fleet. Work will be performed in Madison; San Angelo, Texas; Okmulgee, Okla.; Buenos Ares, Argentina; Gaborone, Botswana; Brasilia, Brazil; Bogota, Columbia; Cairo, Egypt; Accra, Ghana; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Budapest, Hungary; Joint Base Andrews, Md.; Nairobi, Kenya; Rabat, Morocco; Manila, Philippines; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Bangkok, Thailand; Ankara, Turkey; Edwards AFB, Calif.; Holloman AFB, N.M.; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; and Yokota Air Base, Japan. Work is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2018. FY 2019 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $2,000,000 will be obligated at the time of award. Total face value of obligated funds for this contract is $30,913,890. Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, Tinker AFB, Okla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 11/14/18)

Abby making 2nd expansion in MS

JACKSON, Miss. – Abby Manufacturing, a company that manufactures and produces steel and aluminum products for agriculture, construction, transportation, and military industries, is expanding its Walnut, Miss., location with a $1.4M corporate investment. It’s the second expansion this year, and will create 10 additional jobs, which would increase Abby’s employment in Tippah County to about 140 workers. “Abby Manufacturing’s second expansion in North Mississippi in less than a year is evidence of a strong economy and supportive business climate, both of which encourage Mississippi’s existing businesses to grow and create new jobs in our state,” Gov. Phil Bryant said in a media release from the Mississippi Development Authority. In April, the firm announced the addition of a new laser cutting machine and press brake at the Walnut location. Abby Manufacturing also has operations in Ashland and New Albany, Miss. (Source: WCBI 11/13/18)

Vertex awards F/A-18 NASA pact

L3 MAS, based in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, announced Nov. 13 that it was awarded two contracts to provide In-Service Support (ISS) services for international F/A-18 fleet operators. RUAG Aviation recently awarded L3 MAS a contract for the provision of preventive modifications for high-priority structural locations on the inner wings of the Swiss Air Force (SAF) F/A-18 aircraft fleet. These modifications are part of the strategy to ensure F/A-18 fleet safely reaches its planned life objective. L3 MAS was also selected by Vertex Aerospace LLC of Madison, Miss., to perform depot-level modifications and repairs on three NASA F/A-18 aircraft at the Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. L3 MAS will conduct all on-aircraft work at its Mirabel facility. L3 MAS is a Canadian-based affiliate of L3 Technologies, former owner of Vertex Aerospace in Mississippi. (Source: L3 MAS 11/13/18)

CAFB T-6 maintenance manager

Vertex Aerospace is seeking a T-6 Aircraft Maintenance Manager at Columbus, AFB, Miss. Manager should demonstrate project management and aviation maintenance skills required to effectively meet organizational goals on time and on budget. AMM should be adept at briefing senior leaders, and providing mentorship and training to a large workforce. Works directly for the Fleet Manager in support of aircraft assigned to CAFB. The Maintenance Manager has direct oversight of and is responsible for overseeing maintenance, servicing, and repairing ensure assigned aircraft are in good mechanical condition and safe for flight. (Source: Vertex Aerospace 11/2012)

Vertex seeks deputy PM at CAFB

Vertex Aerospace is seeking a Deputy Program Manager (DPM) for its work at Columbus AFB, Miss. The DOM serves as production management lead for large aviation maintenance support organization. Deputy is responsible to program manager for the technical execution of the contract, and the cost, schedule and technical performance of company programs or subsystems of major programs. (Source: Vertex Aerospace 11/2018)

Dems’ win & DoD policy questions

WASHINGTON – Democrats’ gains in the U.S. House in the Nov. 6 midterm elections will likely shake up defense policy in 2019 and raise the possibility of tumultuous fights over President Donald Trump and his agenda. With control of the lower chamber, Democrats will assume leadership of the House Armed Services and House Appropriations committees, presenting challenges to Trump’s defense spending plans. “Tomorrow will be a new day in America,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who takes the leadership role in January. For the GOP, the loss of the House was blunted by additional seats won in the Senate, ensuring that Democrats will still have limited ability to slow Trump nominations. In the House, Democrats have promised to put their priorities on domestic spending, and defense will have to take a backseat. But, will Congress agree on any defense budget, which may raise lengthy impasses on spending and potential government shutdowns. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) will become the House Armed Services Committee’s chairman. He has vowed more scrutiny of military personnel and planning. He has criticized the FY-2019 defense budget ($716B) as being too high, and is a supporter of another base closure round, and a smaller military footprint around the globe. He’s also opposed to Trump’s proposed 355-ship Navy, B-2 bomber and F-22 fighter (production of Raptors ended almost a decade ago). Amid new changes, Congress will see old faces: Former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney won an open Utah Senate seat; and Obama and Clinton-era State Department official Tom Malinosky won a congressional seat in New Jersey. (Source: Defense News 11/07/18) Gulf Coast Note: In Mississippi, incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker won re-election with 58% of the vote; in the state’s special election for its second U.S. senator, the results appear headed for a run-off between Democrat Mike Espy (40.7%) and fill-in senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (41.5%). A third party candidate with 16% will push the top two vote-getters into a run-off. In Florida, incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson lost to current GOP governor Rick Scott. Florida now has two GOP senators (Marco Rubio). In Alabama, incumbents were all re-elected in U.S. House races (6 GOP, 1 Dem). There were no U.S. Senate races (1 GOP, 1 Dem). In Louisiana’s U.S. House races, all incumbents won (5 GOP, 1 Dem). There were no U.S. Senate races (2 GOP).

Navy EP-3 buzzed over Black Sea

BLACK SEA – An American Navy EP-3 Aries aircraft flying in international airspace over the Black Sea was intercepted by a Russian SU-27 on Nov. 5, according to a Navy media report. The interaction was determined to be unsafe due to the SU-27 conducting a high speed pass directly in front of the EP-3, putting at risk the pilots and crew. The intercepting SU-27 made an additional pass of the EP-3 and applied its afterburner while conducting a banking turn away. The crew of the EP-3 reported turbulence following the first pass, and vibrations from the second. The duration of the intercept was approximately 25 minutes. While the Russian military is within its right to exercise within international airspace, this interaction was irresponsible, according to the Navy, and against international standards set to ensure safety and to prevent incidents, including the 1972 Agreement for the Prevention of Incidents On and Over the High Seas (INCSEA). The U.S. aircraft was operating in accordance with international law and did not provoke the SU-27. (Within link below is video of the encounter.) (Source: U.S. Navy 11/05/18) The EP-3 Aries is a land-based Multi-Intelligence reconnaissance aircraft. There are 11 EP-3s in the Navy’s inventory. One of the European bases from which EP-3s operate is Rota, Spain.

Mississippi-Gulf Coast Defense Forum

Mississippi is establishing itself as a center for excellence in naval technology and defense innovation, while the Gulf Coast is home to critical missions that drive new technologies and partnerships. Supporting these missions requires new thinking from community, industry, and military leaders to forge innovative partnerships and ideas for communities and bases across America. On Dec. 2-3 in Gulfport, Miss., there will be a Mississippi-Gulf Coast Defense Forum to bring key leaders from the Pentagon (including Assistant Secretary Phyllis Bayer of the Energy, Installations & Environment division of the U.S. Navy; Gulf Coast defense communities, and industry leaders to explore issues and partnerships that will define the future of all Gulf Coast defense communities. (Source: Defense Community 11/18)

Some Tyndall units return or relocate

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air Force announced Nov. 2 that several key Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., missions will be returning following devastation caused by Hurricane Michael on Oct. 10. A number of those key missions will resume within the next few months, and others will shift to other locations for the time being. All but some 500 personnel will return to the Florida panhandle base. “We are focused on taking care of our Airmen and their families and ensuring the resumption of operations. Tyndall’s Non-Commissioned Officer Academy will temporarily disperse across four locations – Keesler AFB, Miss.; McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.; Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.; and Sheppard AFB, Texas. Units to resume operations at Tyndall: 601st Air Force Operations Center (NLT Jan. 1); 337th Air Control Squadron’s air battle manager training at a reduced rate by Jan.1 (full production by summer); Medical Agency Support; Office of Special Investigations; 53rd Air-to-Air Weapons Evaluation Group; Legal Operations; 823rd Red Horse Squadron, Det. 1; and Civil Engineer Center. Units to relocate to Eglin AFB, Fla., with reach-back to Tyndall: 43rd and 2nd Fighter Squadrons’ F-22 Fighter Training and T-38 Adversary Training; academic and simulator facilities at Tyndall will be used to support training, as well as Tyndall’s surviving low observable maintenance facilities; and 372nd Training Squadron’s Det. 4. Units without sufficient infrastructure will relocate: Personnel and F-22s from the 95th Fighter Squadron will relocate to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; and JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. “By the winter holidays, and in many cases well before, we expect all our Airmen - military and civilian - to have certainty about their options, so that everyone is either on a path or already settled,” said AF Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein. (Source: Secretary of the Air Force 11/02/18)