HT-8 leadership command change

MILTON, Fla. – Cmdr. Jessica Parker, commanding officer of Helicopter Training Squadron Eight (HT-8) will relinquish command to her current executive officer, Cmdr. Lena Kaman, in a change of command ceremony onboard Naval Air Station Whiting Field on June 7. Parker and Kaman are the first female team to command a helicopter training squadron together. Kaman is also the first full time support officer, an active duty Navy Reservist, to take command of a training squadron at Whiting. HT-8 is one of three helicopter squadrons at NASWF that trains 100 percent of all rotary pilots for the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines to the successful completion of obtaining their Wings of Gold. (Source: NAS Whiting Field media notice 05/31/19)

Austal EPF with CARAT exercise

SATTAHIP, Thailand - The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and Royal Thai Navy and Marine Corps kicked off the 25th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise’s May 29 opening ceremony at Sattahip Naval Base. CARAT, the Navy's oldest and longest-running regional exercise in South and Southeast Asia, strengthens partnerships between regional navies, and enhances maritime security cooperation throughout the Indo-Pacific. The Royal Thai Navy has been a part of CARAT since the exercise began in 1995. U.S. assets participating in CARAT Thailand 2019 included USNS Millinocket (T-EPF3), an Austal USA Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship built in Mobile, Ala., among multiple other ships and units. (Source: Navy.mil 05/30/19)

Austal EPF joins Exercise Argonaut

The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Yuma (T-EPF 8) and a P-8A Poseidon, attached to Patrol Squadron (VP) 10, began participation March 27 in Exercise Argonaut in Limassol, Cyprus, with the Cyprus Air Force and British Royal Navy. The Cyprus-led exercise is designed to develop the individual and collective maritime proficiencies of participating nations in search and rescue (SAR) non-combatant evacuation operations and interoperability. Yuma departed Limassol to conduct SAR exercises and flight operations with helicopters from the Cyprus AF and British Navy. Argonaut is a regularly-scheduled exercise and is not associated with real-world events. U.S. 6th Fleet headquarters in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allies, in order to advance America’s national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. (Source: Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet 05/30/19) Gulf Coast Note: USNS Yuma was christened Aug. 20, 2016, and launched at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., on Sept. 17, 2016. Yuma completed acceptance trials in January 2017 and was accepted by the Navy on Apr. 21, 2017.

Thunderbirds ’20 have 3 GC shows

The Air Force’s Thunderbirds flight demonstration team has announced a preliminary 2020 schedule that will include three air shows over Gulf Coast (GC) states: April 18-19 at the True Air & Space Show over Maxwell AFB, Ala.; April 25-26 at the Wings Over Columbus air show over Columbus AFB, Miss.; and Dec. 7-8 at the NAS/JRB New Orleans air show. (Source: Thunderbirds 2019)

Update: Cochran funeral info

Former U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), who represented the Magnolia State in Congress for more than 45 years, passed away early Thursday (May 30) morning in Oxford, Miss., at the age of 81. Cochran, who was born was born in Pontotoc, Miss., was first elected to the Senate in 1978, becoming the first Republican in more than 100 years to win a statewide election. He was the 10th-longest-serving senator in American history. He resigned last year due to health concerns. Cochran had been called “Gentleman Thad” by his peers in Congress, and the “King of Pork” by detractors for securing billions in federal spending for Mississippi. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Mississippi and other Gulf Coast states, became part of Cochran’s legacy. He was chairman of appropriations, and convinced a reluctant Congress to provide $29B in immediate Katrina relief, including an unprecedented $5B in discretionary HUD Community Development Block Grant money for Mississippi. It allowed the state to provide homeowner grants for rebuilding. The federal relief was credited with preventing financial and social ruin in Mississippi and Louisiana after the hurricane’s destruction. Services for the former U.S. senator are pending. (Source: Clarion Ledger 05/30/19) UPDATE: Funeral arrangements have been announced for Sen. Cochran: Visitation June 2 from 5-7 p.m. at the University of Mississippi Robert C. Khayat Law Center in Oxford; Funeral service will be June 3 at 11 a.m. at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson; a second funeral service will be held June 4 at 11 at Northminster Baptist Church in Jackson. Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford is in charge of arrangements. (Source: News Mississippi 05/31/19)

Prez: Carrier EMALS wrong

President Donald Trump told American troops in Japan that he plans to order traditional steam powered catapults for future Ford-class aircraft carriers instead of newer Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) that may not work as well in wartime. Trump polled sailors and Marines on the USS Wasp on steam versus electric catapults May 28 during a visit to the Yokosuka naval base south of Tokyo, the biggest overseas U.S. naval installation. Troops’ cheered were audibly larger for steam catapults - used to launch aircraft off navy ships - and Trump took note at the end of his 4-day tour to Japan. “We’re spending all that money on electric (which he claims has a $900M cost overrun) and nobody knows what it’s going to be like in bad conditions," he said. "So, I think I’m going to put an order when we build a new aircraft carrier, we’re going to use steam." The Navy intends to buy two Ford-class aircraft carriers in the near future. The Ford has long been a source of frustration for the president, who has bashed the carrier’s EMALS launch system, which is replacing steam catapults. Trump told the Japan-based personnel that steam catapults work better. “Steam’s only worked for about 65 years perfectly … (and) they have a $900M cost overrun on this crazy electric catapult,” he said. “(W)e all want innovation, but it’s too much.” (Source: Bloomberg News 05/28/19) Central Mississippi Note: General Atomics (GA) in San Diego has contracts for EMALS production. In September 2008, GA began construction on an addition to its Electromagnetic Systems (EMS) division production and test facility in Tupelo, Miss., to support future production of EMALS and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) programs for the next‐generation aircraft carrier (Gerald R. Ford (CVN‐78)). In January 2019, GA-San Diego was awarded $19,682,252 firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement. The award is to provide for the manufacture, assembly, inspection, integration, test and delivery of EMALS’ spare parts in support of the CVN-78 prior to the Advanced Arresting Gear and EMALS material support dates. Work will be performed primarily in San Diego, but the Tupelo plant was to get 10.7 percent. The award is expected to be completed in January 2023.

CNO, Vice confirmed; Marine on hold

The Senate has confirmed Adm. Bill Moran to be the Chief of Naval Operations, and Vice Adm. Robert Burke to serve as the next Vice CNO. Moran is currently VCNO and Burke is Chief of Naval Personnel. Burke will be promoted to the rank of admiral upon taking on the VCNO job. Current CNO Adm. John Richardson will retire this summer after 37 years. The Navy is facing a challenge to recruit and retain sufficient personnel to man a larger and more complex Navy, but have former personnel chiefs at the top spots may help ensure sufficient focus on those issues. U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) has held up confirmation of Lt. Gen. David Berger to be the next commandant of the Marine Corps, according to USNI News. Moran and Berger were nominated about the same time, and went through confirmation hearings with the Senate Armed Services Committee together. Three sources confirmed Sullivan was the senator who placed a hold on Berger’s nomination due to local Alaska issues. (Source: USNI News 05/24/19)

Starkville Memorial Day service

The Greater Starkville (Miss.) Development Partnership and the Military Affairs Committee will host its annual Memorial Day service May 27 to honor Oktibbeha County service members who gave their lives in military service for their county. The ceremony will include remarks from Oktibbeha County District 5 Supervisor Joe Williams; Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill; retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Jim Martin, representative from Mississippi State University; and the 14th Flying and Training Wing’s Vice Commander Col. Bill Denham of Columbus Air Force Base as the guest speaker. Names of Oktibbeha County residents who died in war will be read, and wreaths will be placed at the county's War Memorial Monument. The service will be in front of the Oktibbeha County Courthouse at 11 a.m. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 05/25/19)

NOLA Memorial Day volunteers

A swarm of volunteers planted American flags on more than 15,000 headstones at the Chalmette (La.) National Cemetery on May 24 for Memorial Day. Family groups, active and retired military personnel, scouts, St. Bernard Parish fire, sheriff and tourism departments, the World War II Museum, and businesses such as Valero and Shell fielded teams of three to 10 volunteers. The task was completed in 45 minutes, breaking last year’s record of an hour. Navy veterans Cindy and Edward Broom brought their grandchildren to help plant flags. “We’ve brought them the past three years,” Cindy said. “They love doing it.” Flags are placed at the graves in the national cemetery in honor of Memorial Day and in preparation for the annual Memorial Day Ceremony to be held at Sunday (May 26) at 12:30 p.m. The Vietnam Veterans of VFW Post 3798 will present a tribute to America's fallen troops. “We have records of Memorial Day ceremonies here dating back to 1935,” Jim Cowie, a National Park Service (NPS) volunteer at the cemetery, told NOLA.com. According to the NPS website, the cemetery was established in May 1864 as a final resting place for U.S. soldiers who died in Louisiana during the Civil War. (Source: NOLA.com 05/24/19)

USM student partnering with NASA

Witold Fuchs, a third-year polymer-science doctoral student at the University of Southern Mississippi, is partnering with NASA to design and test carbon fiber composite material to construct hulls for spaceships and satellites. NASA is planning to launch Fuchs' material into space to test it onboard the International Space Station by June, according to USM. NASA is to attach samples of the material to the space station's exterior where it is to remain there for up to two years to test any degradation in space. Fuchs is currently working with scientists at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., to prepare the material for launch. The USM doctoral student will then spend this summer at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, where he will work with researchers on other new materials for use in space. (Source: USM News 05/16/19)

Advocacy to host small biz reg talks

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy is hosting a roundtable discussion of federal regulatory issues June 6 at the Jackson (Miss.) Hilton that impact small businesses. The free-to-register discussions begin at 9 a.m. President Trump has made regulatory reform a center piece of his agenda and signed two executive orders addressing the regulatory burden faced by the private sector. As the independent voice for small business within the federal government, The Office of Advocacy has a unique and role to aid the SBA’s implementation of those orders. To assist in accomplishing the goals, Advocacy has developed a Regulatory Reform Action Plan. As part of this plan, there are Regional Regulatory Reform Roundtables being held across the country to give small businesses first-hand information about federal regulations that most concern or impact business In order for this reform effort to be successful, small business participation will be needed. This will be an opportunity for small business leaders to educate Advocacy and federal agencies through first-hand accounts of how federal regulations impact their small business. (Source: Event Brite 05/2019)

La. firms earn Prez export awards

La. firms earn Prez export awards WASHINGTON – Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross honored 48 companies and organizations for their contributions to American export growth during the 2019 President’s “E” Awards ceremony. Winners hail from 25 states, including two from Louisiana. “President Donald J. Trump has placed a high priority on restoring the balance of global trade to ensure American businesses and workers are not left behind,” said Ross. “With companies like these awardees who have placed a premium on export success, we can reclaim the lost years of ever-expanding trade deficits.” President’s “E” Award was created in 1961 and is the highest recognition a U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. In 2018 alone, the U.S. exported $2.5T worth of goods and services – the highest on record. Twenty-six companies were honored with the “E” Award for Exports for demonstrating a sustained increase in export sales over a four-year period. Among the awardees is Smitty's Supply of Roseland, La., for assisting and facilitating export activities; and SPF Depot of Bossier City, La., which recognizes previous “E” recipients that have shown four years of continued support of exporters since first winning the “E” Award. American companies are nominated for “E” Awards through the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service office network. (Source: Commerce Dept. 05/23/19) Smitty’s distributes bulk and packaged oils, chemicals and related products worldwide, and has other facilities in Hammond, La., and Vicksburg, Miss. SPF Depot recently expanded to Europe and is providing long-lasting and superior quality spray gun replacement parts for the GX7, GAMA and GAP guns. The products meet all European standards and are currently available in Ireland and Poland, but they will soon be available in Germany and Russia. In addition to supplying products, SPF Depot provides technical support for European customers.

‘AFRL Inspire’ coming to Eglin 2020

DAYTON, Ohio - Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) technology personnel across the country presented inspiring talks at the fourth AFRL Inspire event held May 16 at the Dayton Convention Center. The event was sponsored by AFRL’s Learning Office. Inspire showcases the innovative ideas and passionate people AFRL has to offer as they provide entertaining and thought-provoking talks. This year’s Inspire event, themed “Breaking the status quo,” also highlighted advancements in 16 different research areas as part of AFRL’s Tech Expo. “AFRL Inspire is an opportunity for the Air Force Research Laboratory to inspire both our current and our future workforce and to inspire our stakeholders who depend on AFRL to deliver technology,” said Maj. Gen. William Cooley, AFRL commander. “Inspire presents an opportunity to communicate across the laboratory,” Cooley said. At the Tech Expo, mechanical engineer J.D. Bales and Christopher Falkowski, a facilities engineer, at AFRL discussed their lightweight milk stool, designed to save fuel, time and reduce manpower requirements among C-130 units across the Defense Department. “The original request came from a C-130 loadmaster from Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Fla., who had spent many years carrying the old milk stool, which is used to prop up the rear bottom ramp door,” Bales said. “He asked us if we could help him out with a lightweight milk stool.” The duo helped develop the product and manufactured the product in the back-shops of the maintenance squadrons to help keep costs down. The current milk stool weighs 85 pounds and the version they are working on is a little more than 32 pounds. “An idea has the power to change the world, but ideas are transformed to reality through people, and the people who make this happen are thought leaders,” said Dr. Dan Miracle, a senior scientist at AFRL. The next AFRL event is scheduled for 2020 at Eglin AFB, Fla. (Source: 88th Air Base Wing 05/22/19)

From the cockpit to the saddle

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. – Andrea Matesick grew up riding horses as a kid in Northern California, but put her dream of riding professionally on hold to enlist, and later be commissioned an officer, into the Air Force. Only in 2013, while stationed at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, did now-Maj. Matesick - an F-15E Weapons System Officer and instructor at the 49th Fighter Training Squadron on Columbus AFB, Miss. - would reach out to the Air Force Sports program after learning she could still be an F-15E Strike Eagle and travel the U.S. competing in professional equestrian events. “(The process) took me a while to figure out,” she said. “But if you’re competing in an Olympic sport and you’re competing at a certain level, the Air Force will let you go compete for them.” Matesick is only one of two Airmen that represent the Air Force in professional equestrian competitions. (Source: Columbus AFB 05/22/19)

Prez: Barrett SECAF nominee

President Trump announced May 21 he intends to nominate Barbara Barrett, a former chairwoman of the non-profit Aerospace Corp., to be the 25the Secretary of the Air Force. She will be replacing current SECAF Heather Wilson, who will relinquish her post May 31 to become president at the University of Texas at El Paso. Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) applauded the president’s choice in a news release, saying that she had urged Trump to choose Barrett during a May 17 telephone call. McSally is a former AF A-10 pilot. Barrett has had an interest in aerospace issues having sat on the boards of the Rand and Aerospace corporations. She served on one of those boards with former AFSEC Michael Donley, and was acting as a former member of the Defense Business Board. Barrett is an instrument-rated pilot. In 2009, she trained at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia and Kazakhstan, and was certified for space travel. Also, Barrett was the first civilian woman to land in an F/A-18 Hornet on an aircraft carrier. It’s not the first time Barrett has been nominated for AFSEC. In 2003, she was nominated by President George W. Bush, but eventually withdrew her name before going the confirmation process. She was later confirmed as Bush’s ambassador to Finland. (Source: Air Force Times 05/21/19)

SECAF bids formal farewell

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - Two years and nine days since becoming the 24th Secretary of the Air Force, Heather Wilson bid a formal farewell May 21 at Joint Base Andrews’ Hanger 3. “I lived a blessed life,” Wilson said in a 15-minute speech that reflected on her tenure as the Air Force’s highest-ranking civilian official. But, in the end, she said: “I will always be an Airman.” Wilson announced her resignation in March after she was selected to be president of the University of Texas-El Paso. Her last day as Air Force secretary is May 31. Under her direction, the AF became both more prepared and nimble. A shortage of more than 4,000 active duty maintenance personnel greeted Wilson in 2017, and today has been closed to zero. Aggressive efforts to streamline the procurement process shaved 100 years off traditional timelines while a series of major contracts approved in recent years saved more than $17B. Overall, the AF today is 17 percent more ready than it was when she was confirmed. (Source: Secretary of the Air Force 05/21/19)

TW-5 Marines honor fallen aviators

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Marines from Training Air Wing 5’s Helicopter Squadron 8 (HT-8) based out of Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla., honored fallen Marine aviators during a Memorial Placement Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in Pensacola, May 17. Hosted by the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of nearby Pensacola, the ceremony marked the unveiling of 158 newly inscribed granite memorial bricks commemorating the lives of 311 service members, including 210 heroes who have lost their lives since 9/11. Fellow Whiting squadron members from HT-18 landed a TH-57 Ranger trainer helicopter at the park prior to the event as part of a static display for the ceremony, which also included AH-1W SuperCobra and UH-1Y Venom helicopters from the “Red Dogs” of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 of New Orleans. Two KC-130J cargo aircraft from the “Rangers” of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 of NAS/Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, also conducted a flyby in support. “It’s a great honor” to participate in the aviation memorial ceremony,” HT-18’s Marine Maj. Kyleigh Cullen said. “The Marines, Sailors, and Coast Guardsmen of Training Air Wing 5 (TW-5) are proud to honor our brothers and sisters in arms and support the families of those we have lost.” (Source: Chief of Naval Air Training 05/21/19)

CAFB history with new squadron

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. – The 492nd Attack Squadron was recognized during an activation and assumption of command ceremony here May 10. During the ceremony, Col. Jeffery Patton, 49th Operations Group commander, awarded command of the 492nd ATKS to Lt. Col. Trevor Laribee. The new commander announced to the crowd that he is ready to lead the squadron and strengthen its MQ-9 Reaper mission. “We have maintenance, base operations support, medical and MQ-9 aircrew specialties on the same team,” said Laribee. “This diversity will help us meld the best operational and cultural practices across the total force teams.” One of the ways Laribee intends to support the mission is by enabling the 163rd Attack Wing to graduate 72 or more MQ-9 crews per year. The squadron has a rich heritage. It was initially organized as the 80th Aero Squadron in 1917 at Kelley Field, Texas. It moved in 1943 to Fort Worth Field, Texas, and the squadron flew B-29s from 1946-; B-36s from 1948-58, and B-52s from 1958-63 out of Columbus AFB, Miss., for the Strategic Air Command. The squadron lay dormant for nearly 60 years until April 15, when it was re-activated and designated the 492nd Attack Squadron at March ARB. (Source: Alamogordo Daily News 05/20/19) SIDEBAR NEWS: An armed F-16 fighter jet crashed into the See Water Inc. warehouse on approach to March ARB, Calif., on May 16 following a training mission. The pilot ejected and was not injured. A dozen people were sent to local hospitals for treatment of minor injuries. “The pilot was having hydraulic problems,” said base Deputy Fire Chief Timothy Holliday, and “started losing control of the aircraft.” The F-16, a part of the 114th Fighter Wing based in South Dakota, went down about 3:45 p.m. and crashed into the warehouse. Base commander Col. Melissa Coburn declined to describe the aircraft’s armament, reported the Palm Springs Desert Sun. The jet pancaked the roof of the building causing a fire that triggered an on-site sprinkler system containing the flames. March is home to the 452nd Air Mobility Wing, an Air Force Reserve component that utilizes mammoth C-17 transports, KC-135 refueling aircraft and C-130 transports and the Air Force Reserve Command's 4th Air Force HQs. (Source: Palm Springs Desert Sun 05/19/19)

Miss. lawmaker arrested, bonds out

GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. - Mississippi state representative Doug McLeod, who represents District 107 that includes George and Stone counties, was arrested on domestic violence simple assault charges May 18. According to an incident report from George County Sheriff’s deputies McLeod was drunk when they arrived at his home, WLOX reported. They were answering a call for assistance that came from inside the house. A woman inside the house told deputies that McLeod punched his wife. Deputies reported blood was seen in the couple’s bedroom. An ambulance was called to check out the victim’s injuries. She did not require hospitalization. McLeod was booked on simple assault charges and has since bonded out. WLOX News attempted to contact Rep. McLeod for comment, but has been unable to make contract with him. The sheriff’s office said the case is still under investigation. (Source: WLOX 05/21/19)

Tyndall hosts major weapons evals

TYNDALL AFB, Fla. - The 325th Fighter Wing is approaching the conclusion of Combat Archer 19-8 that was conducted in conjunction with the on-going Checkered Flag 19-1 exercise at Tyndall Air Force Base from May 6-17. CA is also known as the Weapons Systems Evaluation Program and is the Pentagon’s largest air-to-air live-fire evaluation exercise. “Combat Archer is readiness,” said Lt. Col. Vaimana Conner, 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron commander, and gives confidence to senior leaders that “ensures both the operations and maintenance crews are ready to employ in combat in an air-to-air environment.” Squadron leaders monitor the life span of a missile to assess execution performance by maintenance crew members, aircraft armament systems members and aircrew members. Participants included squadrons across the AF, including Virginia-based 494th Fighter Squadron and 67th FS, and 94th FS - assigned to Kadena Air Base, Japan - that employed variations of live air-intercept missiles against unmanned aerial targets remotely operated by the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron. The aircrew battled against the simulated threats over the Gulf of Mexico. Combat Archer 19-8 is an extensive exercise on its own, but Tyndall leaders combined the operation with Checkered Flag 19-1 because of the complimentary objectives that focus on air-to-air conflict. According to Conner, more than 40 aircraft and 800 personnel participated in the exercises, making it the largest training operation since Hurricane Michael that hit the Panama City area in October 2018. (Source: 325th Fighter Wing 05/16/19)

Flight dreams via homemade VR

The dream of becoming Marine jet pilots was almost within reach for the Occhipinti brothers, self-confessed mechanical engineering geeks, in 2013. They didn’t know how challenging the training would be, after commissioning from Marine officer basic, and that success and failure would hang in the balance. But, they did know they had to make changes and fast. Afterwards, Matteo and Andy Occhipinti reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., for Introductory Flight Screening (IFS). Next, it was on to NAS Whiting Field, Fla., for Primary flight training. They flew T-6B Texan II single-engine turboprop trainers. They graduated and both selected jet Strike training at NAS Meridian, Miss., and the T-45C Goshawk jet trainer. But, after a series of delayed training events they got a gut-punch – a senior Marine told them their Navy Standardization Scores (NSS) were below the cutoff. They were at risk of being dropped. They had to make changes. They got to work on building a system that would save careers of current and future students. It’s a story emblematic of perseverance and ingenuity, and a symbol of giving junior personnel vital roles in identifying and addressing broad issues. “I was amazed,” said Chief of Naval Air Training Rear Adm. Greg Harris, who is responsible for naval aviator, naval flight officer, and naval aircrewman training for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard across Florida, Mississippi, and Texas. “It’s innovation from within Naval Aviation and from within our students. When we start letting students help us understand how they are learning differently, instead of us dictating how we think they’re going to learn, we are better off.” See their virtual reality story. (Source: Chief of Naval Air Training 05/18/19)

D-Day 75 at WWII museum

As the 75th anniversary of D-Day approaches on June 6, America's surviving WWII veterans is dwindling. With nearly 400 veterans passing away daily, fewer than 500,000 of more than 16M men and women who served are alive today. In this post-war era, France will honor those who fought on the beaches of Normandy over the D-Day landings. In New Orleans, through Oct. 20, the National WWII Museum will commemorate the actions of D-Day, the seminal point in the European theater that ultimately saved the world from Nazi tyranny. That's all the more reason in time for the 75th anniversary of D-Day and well beyond to discover the countless rich biographies and true tales of valor that make up the National WWII Museum. (Source: Forbes 05/15/19)

Mayor's military service awards

Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base New Orleans’ Air Traffic Controller 3rd Class Jeanette Didway was among service members selected for the 2019 Mayor’s Community Service Award. The awards are presented by the Mayor’s Military Advisory Committee of New Orleans to a member of each branch of service that has given back to the community. Other recipients included Maj. Anissa Johnson of the Louisiana Army National Guard (LANG); Lt. John Fitzgerald of the Coast Guard; Senior Master Sgt. Michael Vaurigaud of the LANG; Sgt. 1st Class Carmen Montanez of the Army Reserve; and Cpl. Mitchell Bernier of the Marine Corps. (Source: NAS/JRB New Orleans 05/18/19)Sergeant 1st Class Carmen Montanez, Army Reserve; and
Cpl. Mitchell Bernier, USMC.

Friend to Meridian POW laid to rest

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A pair of Navy T-45C Goshawk aircraft from Commander Training Air Wing 6 in Pensacola, Fla., performed a flyover above Barrancas National Cemetery on May 16 as a tribute to fallen Vietnam War-era naval aviator and a former POW, retired Cmdr. Ralph Ellis Gaither Jr. Gaither began naval aviation training more than five decades ago at NAS Pensacola. “We were honored to be part of sending off such a great naval aviator and war hero,” Cmdr. Michael Britt, one of the CTW-6 pilots who performed the flyover, said. Ralph Gaither was born in 1942 in Birmingham, Ala. He enlisted in the Navy in November 1962, and was commissioned through the Naval Aviation Cadet Program and designated a Naval Aviator on October 16, 1964. He went on to fly the F-4B Phantom with the “Jolly Rogers” of Fighter Squadron (VF) 84. He deployed aboard USS Independence (CVN 62) and conducted combat missions in the Gulf of Tonkin in both North and South Vietnam. Shortly into his deployment, his aircraft was shot down over North Vietnam. Gaither endured 2,675 days as a POW before returning to the U.S. as part of Operation Homecoming in February 1973. Gaither, an ensign at the time of being shot down, along with his radar intercept officer were captured a few miles south of the China border. After his arrival home Gaither returned to his previous flight status with the Navy. He continued his naval career until he retired in 1986. (Source: Chief of Naval Air Training 05/17/19) In September 2003, Gaither was guest speaker at NAS Meridian, Miss.’s annual National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Tom Collins, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel from Meridian was at the 2003 POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at NASM. Collins and Gaither had known one another since their days as prisoners of war. Gaither, 77, was a resident of Gulf Breeze, Fla. Gaither enlisted in the Navy in September 1962. During boot camp he was asked to consider the Navy Aviation Cadet Program, and since he held a flying license – acquired at age 17 – he soon found himself in flight training in Pensacola. Preflight and cadet training followed with flights in the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor and later in the T-28 at NAS Whiting Field, Fla.

Water safe to drink at NCBC

Officials from Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport, Miss., determined that the water in private drinking water wells tested for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in communities surrounding NCBC Gulfport is safe for consumption. (Source: NCBC Gulfport 05/07/19)

Blackwell new boss at Keesler

KEESLER AFB, Miss. - Col. Heather W. Blackwell assumed command of the 81st Training Wing and Keesler AFB from outgoing commander Col. Debra A. Lovette during a change of command ceremony May 16. Lovette’s tenure at Keesler began in May 2017. She was crucial to several major breakthroughs that brought positive change to Keesler and the local community. Blackwell brings experience as a Cyberspace Operations Group commander and knowledge as the director of legislative affairs for U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Mead, Md. Earlier in her career, April 2003–November 2004, she served as Executive Officer to the Commander of the Eighth Air Force at Barksdale AFB, La. (Source: Keesler AFB 05/16/19) KAFB is the "Electronics Training Center of Excellence" for the Air Force. The base is host to the 2nd Air Force, the 403rd Wing (AF Reserve) and the single largest employer on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Search on for new UM chancellor

JACKSON, Miss. - The search is on for a new chancellor at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. College Board President Hal Parker appointed fellow trustee Ford Dye of Oxford to lead the effort. Dye has a "working list" of people he wants to include on an advisory committee, but urged trustees to give him suggestions, and hopes to call and invite people to serve on the advisory group next week. Trustees also approved a plan to advertise for a search firm with hopes of signing a contract in June. The move was necessitated months after Jeffrey Vitter resigned as chancellor after less than three years at the post. (Source: The AP 05/16/19)

MSU: Cochran park Phase II

Mississippi State University will have a new downtown presence in Starkville after its affiliate Research and Technology Corporation (R&TC) closed on a deal to buy the Cadence Bank branch. MSU’s Research and Technology Corp. purchased the bank branch at an undisclosed price. The 39,000 sf property is to be used to expand the Thad Cochran Research and Technology Park. "This is essentially Phase II of the Cochran Research Park," said MSU spokesperson Sid Salter. Some renovation work will be needed, and MSU estimates that it could take about two years, but Salter said some new tenants will start moving into the facility before that timeframe. He wasn’t ready to announce any potential tenants on May 15. The R&TC has a non-disclosure agreement with Cadence that prevents the university from disclosing the property's purchase price. The Dispatch reported in December that the building was listed for sale for $2.5 million. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 05/16/19)

Miss. delegation in Uzbekistan

JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is leading a trade mission in Uzbekistan this week to try to strengthen connections between the Magnolia State and the central Asian country. A spokesperson for the governor, Bobby Morgan, told The Associated Press on May 16 that the governor and others left last Sunday and will return May 18. The delegation includes Mississippi National Guard (MNG) Adjutant Gen. Durr Boyles, Mississippi Development Authority director Glenn McCullough, and Julie Jordan, Mississippi State University's vice president for international programs. The MNG and Uzbekistan’s military have been jointly training for six years in a state partnership program. MSU and Uzbekistan have had a partnership for about five years, according to MSU spokesperson Sid Salter. In February, MSU established a collaboration agreement with Tashkent State Agrarian University in Uzbekistan, focusing on agriculture issues, including irrigation and water management in horticulture. A Uzbekistan delegation has toured the Starkville campus. MSU’s primary interest in forming the international partnership is to improve global food security and alleviate hunger, Salter said. (Source: The AP 05/16/19)

Committee OK's FY-20 defense bill

A U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee approved a proposed FY 2020 defense funding bill - one of four across Congress - on May 15 that would cover the cost of a 3.1 percent military pay raise – possibly the largest since 2010. The bill would provide $690.2B for the Defense Department - $8B less than the President’s request, but $15.8B more than the FY-19 DoD budget. It also calls for 600 fewer active duty troops; and 16,900 from the reserves. Programs that may see increases next year include 90 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters; 73 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters; and 16 C-130J aircraft. The bill would fund 11 ships, including three DDG-51 guided missile destroyers, two submarines, one FFG frigate, an aircraft carrier, two fleet oilers and two towing, salvage and rescue ships. There’s also a $1.26B emphasis on environmental cleanup of military and former base sites for restoration, removal of unsafe property and debris, and hazardous waste disposal. (Read: Tyndall AFB, Fla. and Offutt AFB, Neb.) (Source: Military.com 05/15/19) Important Note: Several programs would be bolstered if the legislation passes as written, which isn't likely since it will be one of four that ultimately guide future defense spending: The Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senate and House Armed Services committees.

Fla. firm to build Gulfport housing

EMR Inc. of Niceville, Fla., is awarded an $18,941,000 firm-fixed-price task order (N6945019F0710) under a multiple award construction contract for the design and construction of P855 expeditionary combat skills student berthing at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss. The work to be performed provides for the design and construction of a multi-story building with auger cast pile foundations that replaces Q4 barracks. The building will comply with facilities criteria for Navy and Marine Corps unaccompanied housing and consists of 83 Naval Education and Training Command modules. Each module will include a semi-private sleeping room, two walk-in closets, small service area including a micro fridge, one lavatory, private toilet room and a private shower stall with dressing area shared by two people. The building will have sound attenuation and include a bachelor quarters administrative lobby, laundry facilities, vending, multipurpose recreation rooms, housekeeping, storage, administrative spaces, and utility rooms. Work will be performed in Gulfport and is expected to be completed by June 2021. FY 2019 Navy military construction contract funds in the amount of $18,941,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast of Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 05/15/19)

Donovan to be acting SECAF

Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew P. Donovan is set to become acting secretary of the Air Force (SECAF) on June 1 when Secretary Heather Wilson resigns to become the president of the University of Texas at El Paso. (Source: DOD 05/15/19) Gulf Coast Note: Donovan enlisted in the AF in 1977 and received his officer commissioning through the Air Force Officer Training School in 1982. While on active duty, he gained an extensive background in AF operations and held a variety of flying and staff assignments at the wing, major command and joint and combined staff levels, and was an Air Combat Command F-15C demonstration pilot. Donovan retired from active duty as a colonel in 2008 and became a senior defense policy analyst in the defense industry. Among some of his active duty assignments, along the Gulf Coast, was as an F-15C Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander, then Wing Standardization and Evaluation Flight Examiner, 2nd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Fla.; and Air Combat Command F-15 Demonstration Pilot, F-15 Eagle West Coast Demonstration Team, assigned to the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall.

La. firm earns $4M Navy contract

Bascom Hunter, an electronics manufacturer based out of Louisiana Technology Park in Baton Rouge, La., was awarded a $4M Defense Department Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program contract with the Navy to reduce disruptions in wireless communications networks. The SBIR program assists small businesses with federal research and development that has the potential for commercialization. Wireless interference is the biggest cause of disruption in communications links and it's becoming a problem as more people use wireless communications and satellites to send more data over wave lengths. Andrew McCandless, who co-founded Bascom Hunter, said the contract was the "top of the mountain" and awarded to larger projects. According to SBIR.gov, Bascom Hunter has been awarded more than $2.4M in similar Navy contracts 2012. The Navy is looking at multiple approaches to solve the problem of wireless interference with Bascom Hunter’s developmental solutions. "If you have disruptions in the link, you can't send information," McCandless told The Advocate. (Source: The Advocate 05/14/19)

MSU, Liberian university sign MoU

GBARNGA, BONG COUNTY, Liberia – Liberia’s Cuttington University (CU) signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with Mississippi State University (MSU) to provide for faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects in mutual interest areas, and study abroad opportunities for faculty. The areas of particular interest to CU and MSU were developing community service capacity; innovative food systems (aquaculture, food preservation); animal and planet (environmental) health; health care (pediatric, maternal and geriatrics); and early childhood education (development and special needs). MSU is a leader in Agrobusiness, innovative research, and community service. The next step, according to MSU Provost Dr. Judith Bonner, will involve detailed discussions in Liberia on how to put the collaborative enterprise into operation. (Source: Front Page Africa 05//15/19)

PC engineer to rep FLC southeast

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City mechanical engineer Paige George was recently selected to represent the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) as the Southeast Regional Coordinator. “The Southeast is such an important region in the FLC. The technology community is still working hard, even after Hurricane Michael devastated the area,” said George. “I want to make sure that our community (SE) continues to have a strong presence among the Federal Labs and that our technology transfer (T2) opportunities can be shared with everyone.” Her main responsibilities will be to coordinate T2 activities in the region, which includes the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. In addition, she will be responsible for ensuring all federal labs in the Southeast have the tools they need to transfer technology. George currently serves as NSWCPC science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) outreach programs manger where she negotiates Education Partnership Agreements (EPAs). Under T2 and STEM outreach, the lab collaborates and partners with non-federal entities, from industry and academia, through EPAs and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements. George will begin her two-year term Oct. 1. FLC is a nationwide network of some 300 federal labs and agencies that establish strategies and opportunities for linking laboratory mission technologies and expertise with the marketplace. (Source: NSWCPC 05/13/19)

DoD shifts $Bs for border wall

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan announced May 10 the authorization of another $1.5B will be shifted from defense funding to building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. He told Fox News the funds are expected to go toward constructing 80 miles of “border barrier”. The money had been intended to support Afghan security forces and other DoD projects. The funds will have “minimal impact” on military readiness, he said. DoD notified Congress of the shift in funds May 10. Additionally, DoD chose 13 companies for the construction work on May 9: BFBC of Bozeman, Mont.; Texas Sterling Construction Co. of Houston; Bristol Construction Services of Anchorage, Alaska; Burgos Group of Albuquerque, N.M.; Gibraltar-Caddell JV of Montgomery, Ala.; Fisher Sand & Gravel of Dickinson, N.D.; Southwest Valley Constructors of Albuquerque, N.M.; Randy Kinder Excavating of Dexter, Mo.; Martin Brothers Construction of Sacramento, Calif.; SLSCO Ltd. of Galveston, Texas; Posillico Civil Inc. of Farmingdale, N.Y.; Coastal Environmental Group of Central Islip, N.Y.; and CJW JV of Santa Ana, Calif., will bid on various sections and elements of the project. "The migration flow and the resulting humanitarian crisis is rapidly overwhelming the ability of the federal government to respond," acting White House budget director Russ Vought said in the request. On May 9, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the arrest of 98,977 undocumented immigrants in April – a 6.52 percent increase over March and a 157.89 percent increase over April 2018. (Source: UPI 05/09/19)

Plans to transfer Eglin's 86th FWS

HILL AFB, Utah - The Air Force plans to transfer the Eglin AFB, Fla.’s 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron - a unit that evaluates bombs and other weapons - to Hill AFB in Utah. The Standard-Examiner in Utah reported that the AF concluded that the 86th FWS should be relocated because most of the service’s evaluations of air-to-ground weapons are conducted at Hill at the Utah Test and Training Range where most of the personnel are assigned to Eglin. According to an Air Force memo, the relocation will better align manpower with workload, decrease temporary duty costs and increase combat readiness. (Source: NW Fla. Daily News 05/11/19)

Lafayette, BR airports’ $25M grants

Lafayette (La.) Regional Airport was awarded a Federal Aviation Administration grant of $10.5M for taxiway improvement projects. The Lafayette airport was one of two in Louisiana to receive supplemental funding from the FAA's Airport Improvement Program: A $15M grant was awarded to the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport. The Lafayette airport is undergoing an $80M construction project to build a new terminal, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2021, according to airport executive Steven Picou. “This is a hard-fought investment in South Louisiana’s infrastructure," said U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.). "With a new terminal … and airfield improvements on the way, Lafayette Regional is one of the fastest-growing airports in Louisiana. These enhancements will generate new commercial activity, greater travel and tourism, and more economic growth in Acadiana.” (Source: Lafayette Daily Advertiser 05/09/19)

Engineering grad program rankings

The U.S. News surveyed 214 graduate engineering programs and ranked 199 schools that provided the needed data in either fall 2018 or early 2019. The criteria included 10 indicators such as recruiter assessment scores, acceptance rates, student-faculty ratios, research activities and the percentage of instructors in the National Academy of Engineering. The undergraduate engineering program rankings were based solely on peer assessment surveys. These programs are split into two groups: Schools whose highest engineering degree offered is a doctorate and schools whose highest engineering degree offered is a bachelor's or master's. The graduate school rankings saw MIT-Boston No. 1. The other 198 schools include the following Gulf Coast state universities’ programs: Texas A&M (15); Rice-Houston (27); Florida (45); Auburn and Houston (69); Mississippi State (95); LSU and Tulane (106); Ala.-Huntsville (118); Alabama (124); Ala.-Birmingham (134); La.-Lafayette, Mississippi and USM (156). (US News 05/2019)

Tyndall’s 2nd industry symposium

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - John Henderson, assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and energy, reaffirmed the service’s commitment to rebuild Tyndall AFB during a May 2 symposium – the second of three planned - with industry representatives at Florida State University-Panama City. Henderson told the more than 500 attendees that despite the absence of supplemental funding, the work to rebuild Tyndall, destroyed by Hurricane Michael in October, will continue forward in the near future. “The Air Force is committed … to rebuild Tyndall,” he said. “It was always a fighter base, and our intent is to keep it a fighter base … and for the communities that support our bases.” AF Secretary Heather Wilson had previously announced that effective May 1 all new rebuilding efforts at Tyndall AFB and Offutt AFB, Neb., which was inundated with historic flooding, would cease without more funding. She said the work stoppage would prevent new-start contracts, including new rebuilding efforts. The stoppage does not apply to contracts already funded for clean-up and repairs. At the first Industry Day on Jan. 31, attendees received briefings about base damages. Nearly 500 buildings on the installation were damaged, and AF leaders want to collaborate with the private sector to include best practices and current construction trends in rebuilding Tyndall as a state-of-the-art base of the future. While the Air Force waits for additional funding, long-term rebuild plans are moving forward. Funding will also provide for future weapons platforms in the decades that follow. A third industry day is tentatively scheduled for August, which will provide further updates on the innovative ideas submitted and the installation development plan. (Source: Air Force 05/06/19) The industry day presentations and videos will be posted on the website at:www.afimsc.af.mil/tyndallpmo.

T-45 crashes at NAS Kingsville

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A Navy T-45C Goshawk training aircraft crashed at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, at 2:38 p.m. on May 10. The pilots safely ejected from the aircraft just before it crashed short of the runway inside the perimeter fence. The instructor and student suffered minor injuries and were transported to a local medical treatment facility for care. The incident is under investigation. (Source: Chief of Naval Air Training 05/10/19)

Prez intends to nominate Shanahan

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump plans to nominate acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan to formally take over as defense secretary, according to the president’s spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote in May 9 tweet. Shanahan is a 30-year executive with the Boeing Co. He will need Senate confirmation for the post. "Acting Secretary Shanahan has proven over the last several months that he is beyond qualified to lead the Department of Defense,” she continued tweeting. Shanahan, 56, had no prior experience in either the military or foreign policy before becoming deputy defense secretary in 2017. Shanahan told reporters at the Pentagon that he learned of the president’s intent to nominate him in the afternoon of May 9 at the White House. (Source: CNBC 05/09/19)

Eglin: Alternative for F-35A training

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air Force announced May 9 that Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the preferred alternative to receive an additional F-35A Lighting II training squadron. Eglin AFB was the location of the F-35 initial joint training site hosting Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied-partners’ pilots and maintenance personnel. The Marine Corps relocated its F-35Bs in 2014 and the Navy announced its plans to relocate F-35Cs in 2019. “By basing the next F-35A training squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, we are taking advantage of existing facilities and training air space,” said Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. Additional F-35As are expected to begin arriving in the fall of 2021. The new squadron is expected to reach full operational capability by spring 2023. “The F-35 is a game-changer,” said AF Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein. “Bringing this new training squadron to Eglin allows us to expand fifth-generation fighter training, so we can dominate in any conflict.” Eglin will only receive the additional F-35 training unit if the F-22 Raptor’s formal training unit (FTU), temporarily operating at Eglin, is permanently moved to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. In March, the AF acknowledged plans to move the F-22 FTU to Joint Base Langley-Eustis pending the outcome of the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulatory and planning processes. This F-35 basing action is also dependent on completing the environmental analysis. (Source: Air Force 05/09/19)

Raspet lead addresses committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Challenges surrounding the integration of emerging unmanned technologies into the National Airspace System led one Mississippi State University administrator to Capitol Hill on May 8. Dallas Brooks, director of MSU’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, joined an elite group of national experts and officials testifying May 8 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s hearing entitled “New Entrants in the National Airspace: Policy, Technology and Security Issues for Congress.” Its focus was the current state of the National Airspace System’s (NAS) status of integration efforts by the Federal Aviation Administration. The hearing was convened by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chairman of the SCC. The hearing held a recurring theme of successes, and suggestions for future enhancements while regulators make decisions about the safety of the nation’s airspace. Addressing the committee, Brooks testified it is these members’ leadership that can make a difference in the speed in which research is conducted to gather innovative data to continue UAS safety improvements and integration into the atmosphere. He also pointed out that recent FAA policy now mandates department-level review, making the timeframe six times longer for approval of UAS Center of Excellence research. “Such reviews add no discernable value, add complexity to the grant process, and slow the timeframe of approval from a few weeks to many months,” he said. Following the model of the UAS Center of Excellence and the UAS Science and Research Panel “our nation’s government can achieve more in less time, and more safely, than ever before,” he claimed. (Source: MSU 05/08/19)

JMAA contingent to Parish air show

JACKSON, Miss. - The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (JMAA) will be traveling to the 53rd annual international Paris Air Show for nearly two weeks from June 14-25. Among those approved for travel includes Chairman LaWanda D. Harris, Vice-Chairman Lee A. Bernard Jr., Commissioners James L. Henley Jr., Robert E. Martin, Lucius Wright; and three staff members. The Paris Air Show, held biennially, is described as a major resource for the aerospace industry worldwide. The show runs from June 17-23. Minutes from JMAA’s March 25 meeting, the board voted unanimously to attend the event, and estimated the total cost of the trip at $40,000. The Mississippi Development Authority regularly visits the Paris Air Show and will have a booth this year from June 17-19. MDA spokesperson Melissa Scallan reported prior participation has resulted in GE Aviation, Raytheon and Airbus doing business in Mississippi. Five MDA employees will be going to Paris. (Source: WLBT 05/08/19)

Lake Charles air show weekend

LAKE CHARLES, La. – The 2019 Kia of Lake Charles Chennault International Airshow, presented by Phillips 66, will take place over southwestern Louisiana skies May 10-12 at Chennault International Airport. The air show begins at twilight (Friday May 10) and continues with shows May 11-12. There is a potential threat of bad weather, but air show officials will be make preparation adjustments in the case of inclement weather. Tickets are non-refundable, but officials say if the May 10 or May 11 show is cancelled, tickets will be able to be used at one of the remaining shows. Advance tickets are $20 and may be ordered online at chennaultairshow.com. Tickets are $24 at the gate. All children 12 and under are admitted free. MAY 10: Twilight Show. Gates open at 5 p.m. Ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m., and performances will follow. MAY 11-12: Full show with all performers and attractions. Gates open at 9 a.m., with opening ceremonies at 11:30 a.m. Among some of the performances will include an F-22 Raptor; BMX star Terry Adams of Louisiana, Red Bull Aerobatic Helicopter and jump/dive team; four Air Force T-38 aircraft; Randy Ball’s Soviet-era MiG-17F; Phillips 66 Aerostars precision aerobatic team; wing-walker Ashley Shelton; and the historic “Texas Raiders,” one of a handful B-17 “Flying Fortress” airplanes still flying. Among some of the ground exhibits will be a B-52 bomber; Dash Aerosports’ and Dream BIG Cockpit virtual simulator with flying experience for everyone; two Louisiana Air National Guard F-15s; Navy F/A-18 Hornet; a Boeing 737; T-6 Texan II from Columbus AFB, Miss.; two A-10 Thunderbolts from Arizona; KC-135R refueler aircraft from Kansas; C-5 from San Antonio; Coast Guard 26-foot rescue boat; and Louisiana Air National Guard Humvee. (Source: KPLC 05/08/19)

MUW free tuition for MNG members

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Mississippi University for Women (MUW) announced a free tuition program for members of the Mississippi National Guard and full-time Army personnel. The new agreement will ensure free tuition to undergraduate MNG participants enrolled full time at MUW as well as full-time Army members. President Nora Miller and Maj. Gen. Janson D. “Durr” Boyles, MNG adjutant general, signed the agreement on campus May 7. There are young men and women joining the guard every day, said Boyles. Some of those are students who may need assistance in paying for college. MNG and MUW will split the cost of full tuition giving these students an opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree without significant financial burden. MUW has earned the 2019-20 Military Friendly Schools designation. (Source: WCBI 05/07/19)

Navy hospital ship to deploy again

WASHINGTON – The Navy’s East Coast-base hospital ship USNS Comfort will embark in June on another humanitarian mission to help countries cope with the influx of Venezuelans fleeing that country’s economic and political crisis, VP Mike Pence said May 7 in a speech on the crisis to the Council of the Americas annual conference. USNS Comfort will leave in June on a 5-month mission to South and Central America, and the Caribbean to help countries "overwhelmed" by the more than three million Venezuelan refugees who have fled in recent years, Pence said. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said that before USNS Comfort can be deploy from its homeport of Norfolk, Va., a staff of doctors, nurses, other medical and support staff have to be assembled. The Comfort's tour in the fall of 2018 provided medical assistance in Colombia and several other countries where most of the Venezuelan refugees have settled. Trump administration officials have warned that another two million people are expected to flee by the end of 2019, if the crisis continues in the once-prosperous nation. (Source: The AP 05/07/19) Gulf Coast Note: Personnel from Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla., and some of its branch clinics in La., Miss., and Fla., are no strangers to deploying with USNS Comfort. Dr. Chris Lewis, a Navy Pulmonary Medicine specialist at NHP, was among the internal medicine personnel to deploy in USNS Comfort during its Haitian recovery effort in 2010. On a four-hour notice, NHP corpsmen, laboratory technicians and pediatricians deployed in 2017 with USNS Comfort following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. They remained on duty for three months. In 2015, 19 personnel from NHP deployed with Comfort as part of the Continuing Promise humanitarian deployment for six months through Caribbean, and Central and South American countries. Although no orders have been cut for Navy medical and other personnel within the Gulf Coast region, Navy Medicine is in the process of identifying Comfort’s mission-needs and available personnel.

LWF’s conservationists of 2018

Katherine Gividen of Baton Rouge, president and founding member of the Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater Baton Rouge, was presented the Louisiana Wildlife Federation’s Governor’s Award, honoring her as conservationist of 2018. The Governor’s Award is presented each year to the person, business or organization making the most outstanding contribution to the protection, wise use and enjoyment of Louisiana’s natural resources. The federation presented six other annual awards to individuals and organizations for their conservation efforts during an awards banquet in Baton Rouge. Additional awardees included * CITGO Petroleum Corp.’s refinery in Lake Charles was named Corporate Conservationist of the Year for its Caring for Our Coast Program in Louisiana. The program focuses on conservation and restoration work at the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. * The Audubon Nature Institute’s Youth Volunteer Corps in New Orleans as Youth Conservationists of the Year for 2018. * Sherrill Sagrera of Abbeville was named Volunteer Conservationist of the Year for her contributions to coastal restoration planning in southwest Louisiana. Sagrera has been a member of the Vermillion Parish Coastal Protection/Restoration Advisory Committee, Rainey Conservation Alliance board of directors, and Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. * Thomas Christian “Chris” Pearce of Many was named Conservation Educator of the Year for his wildlife education career at the LSU AgCenter. * State Sen. Dan W. “Blade” Morrish ( R-Jennings) was named Elected Official Conservationist of the Year for his legislative efforts to protect and conserve the Sabine Lake oyster reef, which may be the largest unharvested shellfish reef in any temperate marine climate in the world. (Source: NOLA.com 05/07/19)

Computer mod work at Vicksburg

Cray Inc. of Seattle, Wash., was awarded a $14,549,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Department of Defense High Performance Computing Modernization Program’s Technology Insertion. Four bids were solicited with two bids received. Work will be performed in Vicksburg, Miss., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 5, 2025. FY 2018 other procurement Army funds in the amount of $14,549,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 05/07/19)

AFSOC boss to head AETC

Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan announced May 7 that the president has nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Marshall B. Webb for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as commander of the Air Education and Training Command at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Webb is currently serving as commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Fla. (Source: DoD 05/07/19) AETC is the second oldest major command in the Air Force having initially begun as the Army Air Corps Flying Training Command. In July 1993, AETC and Air University (Maxwell AFB, Ala.) merged to form AETC. AETC’s training mission makes it the first command to touch the lives of nearly every Air Force member. Among some of the regional units assigned to the AETC are Columbus and Keesler AFBs, Miss.; and Eglin AFB, Fla.

AUVSI names new board members

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) announced new members of its board of directors May 2 at the conclusion of XPONENTIAL 2019, AUVSI’s annual tradeshow/conference in Chicago. Mark Gordon of Stratom Inc. was elected chairman. Among some of the other executive committee members elected to new terms were Suzy Young, exec VP, of the University of Alabama at Huntsville, and Bill Irby, treasurer, of L3 Technologies. Outgoing Chairman Dallas Brooks of Mississippi State University and the ASSURE UAS Center of Excellence in Starkville will continue to serve on the executive committee as immediate past chairman. “This year we are welcoming more representatives from the unmanned ground and maritime communities to the AUVSI board of directors,” said Brian Wynne, AUVSI president/CEO. AUVSI XPONENTIAL is the largest trade show for the unmanned systems and the robotics industry. Next year’s trade show will be in Boston. (Source: AUVSI media release 05/02/19)

Biloxi air show delayed to May 5

The ‘Thunder Over Biloxi Beach’ air show, featuring the Air Force Thunderbirds, was canceled May 4. The air show will start at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday (May 5) at Keelser AFB and moves to the beach area at 1 p.m. The Thunderbirds are scheduled to be the final performance starting at 3:30 p.m. (Source: Sun Herald 05/04/19)

F-22s' historical fly with Blue Angles

BEAUFORT, S.C. - In a historic moment for aviation, the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team flew alongside the Navy’s Blue Angels in a rare formation over the skies of Beaufort, S.C., on April 25. The two aerial demonstration teams joined together during the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort air show to showcase never-before-seen images of both the F-22 Raptor and F/A-18 Hornet. “This formation represents more than just the seven jets captured on camera,” said Maj. Paul Lopez, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team commander. “It is a representation of the professionalism and excellence that every service member portrays in the United States military.” The concept for this unique formation began as an idea between two former squadron-mates who both share a passion for aviation. (Source: 633^rd Air Base Wing 05/02/19) https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1834871/f-22-raptor-makes-historic-flight-with-blue-angels/

Navy taking major steps on PEs fix

ARLINGTON, Va. – Now that the Navy has ruled out contaminated air as the cause of many of the physiological events (PEs) in fleet pilots flying the F/A-18A-D, F/A-18E/F and EA-18G, the service is focusing on air pressure fluctuations. The Navy is planning a major maintenance of on its jets to try and curb PE rates by adding a new cockpit pressure monitoring and warning system to more than 1,000 of the largest type/model/series. The modification will be it has ever undertaken, according to Physiological Episodes Action Team lead Rear Adm. Fredrick “Lucky” Luchtman. The effort will begin later this year and take about two years, he told USNI News. After PE rates shot up in 2017, the Navy established the PEAT to coordinate cross-community efforts. PEAT found that when components fail in the Environmental Control System, sometimes the air fluctuates within the cockpit, and lead to PE symptoms in the cockpit, according to Luchtman. The team “identified the components that are more likely to fail earlier than we anticipated originally, and those components are under redesign right now.” Among those components: Primary and secondary bleed air regulator valves, the Onboard Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS) and others. In addition to replacing those components, the Navy is about to undertake a massive effort to install the Cockpit Pressure and OBOGS Monitoring Systems (CPOMS) in the 1,000 Hornets, Super Hornets and Growlers. It’s highly unlikely that PEs will forever disappear because of the complex relationship between machine and the human body that the Navy still doesn’t understand. A study at the Navy Experimental Diving Unit’s Fluctuating Altitude Simulation Technology Chamber in Panama City, Fla., put 70 people through pressure fluctuation profiles that had caused PEs in pilots in real life. None of the 70 felt any symptoms. Those results made the team think that the relationship between pressure and the pilot is more involved, says Luchtman, noting that sleep, hydration, nutrition and more can play a role in whether a pilot feels headache, tingling fingers or dizziness symptoms. The fixes the Navy is putting in place stand to have a noticeable impact on the fleet, says Lt. Cmdr. John Supple, spokesperson for PEAT told USNI News. (Source: USNI News 05/02/19) Golden Triangle Note: Pilots that flew in the T-45C Navy trainer at NAS Meridian, Miss., and NAS Pensacola, Fla., also experienced PEs. In early 2018, PEAT leader Rear Adm. Sara Joyner a Senate subcommittee the 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.

Meridian ‘Wings of Gold’

Four Navy, one Marine, and two French naval aviators received their "Wings of Gold" during an aviator designation ceremony April 26 at Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss. The naval aviator designation marks the end of nearly two years of specialized undergraduate pilot training, which prepares the officers for aerial combat and carrier operations and to wear their "Wings of Gold." Among the naval aviators is Navy Lt. j.g. Timothy Francis Walsh, 32, of Weymouth, Mass., a prior enlisted Hospital Corpsman that was injured in Afghanistan and a recipient the Purple Heart. Navy Lt. j.g. Michael Berry earned a Navy "E" for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training. French Navy Lt. Louis Bussiere also earned a Navy "E" for bombing accuracy. Navy Lt. j.g. Richard John Campbell IV was selected as VT-9's Student of the Month for September 2018, and earned a Navy "E" for bombing accuracy. French Navy Ensign Quentin Damien Folin was named to the Commodore's List during Primary Flight Training and earned a Navy "E" for bombing accuracy. Marine 1st Lt. Williams Thomas Horn earned three Navy "E's" for bombing accuracy. Navy Lt j.g. Kevin Henrik Lystad, earned a Navy "E" for bombing accuracy. (Source: Meridian Star 04/27/19)

Mil.housing survey extended: May 9

WASHINGTON - Sailors or their families living Public-Private Venture (PPV) housing now have until May 9 to complete their resident satisfaction surveys, according to Commander Navy Installations Command (CNIC) Force Master Chief Petty Officer Steven Timmons. “The iron is hot and we need you to strike,” he was quoted from a CNIC media release. “Your voice is a powerful tool and we need to leverage it to effect change. If there was ever a time to take a survey that will directly impact you and your families, the time is now. Please don’t miss this opportunity,” he proclaimed. “Everyone living in the approximately 116,000 housing units the Navy oversees,” has a voice. The survey for some 39,000 privatized family housing units throughout the U.S., including Hawaii, runs through May 9. As of April 30, there was only a 21.6 percent response rate. The survey for about 8,300 government-operated family housing units around the world runs through June 6. As of April 30, the response rate was 14.3 percent. The satisfaction surveys are designed to identify the current state of Navy housing in order to make informed decisions. In addition to identifying immediate health or safety concerns, the Navy is looking at larger reoccurring issues, the level of customer service, and government oversight. Surveys are being conducted by an independent third party, CEL & Associates, and takes 10 minutes to complete. Participants will remain anonymous, unless they choose to identify. For those living in PPV housing, surveys are electronic. Residents who have not received the survey are encouraged to email NavyPPVHousingSurvey@celassociates.com and include name and home address. For all other residents who have not received the survey or need more information, they are encouraged to contact their housing manager, building manager or Navy Housing Service Center. (Source: Navy Installations Command 04/30/19)

F-35s deploy w/ inompatible spares

Spare parts the Marine Corps took with some of its F-35B Joint Strike Fighters on a recent overseas deployment were not compatible with the vertical and short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) variant of the fifth-generation fighter, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. Investigators found 382 of 886 parts onboard USS Wasp and 339 of 768 parts on USS Essex – about 45 percent of 1,654 parts - were incompatible with the F-35Bs onboard. Those parts included pilot harnesses, masks, breathing hoses, fire extinguishers, sensor elements for the jet, batteries, electrical equipment, antennae, multiple types of valves and panel assemblies, the GAO report stated. The lapse in supply chain management is one of myriad reasons the F-35 stealth jet fleet, operated across all three services with different variants, is falling short of its DoD-directed performance and operational requirements, according to the GAO report. (Source: Military.com 04/29/19)

F-35As mark first combat run

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Two Air Force F-35A Joint Strike Fighters conducted an air strike April 30 at Wadi Ashai, Iraq, in support of Combined Joint Task Force/Operation Inherent Resolve. The strike marked the F-35A’s first combat employment. (Source: Air Forces Central Command 04/30/19)

Mil.housing 24/7 helpline set up

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Military residents of privatized housing on Air Force bases now have a 24/7 toll-free helpline to better assist with any housing concerns that they have not been able to resolve with their local privatized or government housing office, or housing chain of command. Beginning April 30, representatives are available toll-free at 1-(800) 482-6431. The helpline connects residents to the appropriate channels for assistance and consultation. The helpline is in response to recent concerns raised regarding military privatized housing programs. (Source: Air Force 04/30/19)

AF stops FY-19 Tyndall recovery

The Air Force temporarily halted all new repair and recovery operations at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., starting May 1 to save the remainder of its FY 2019 funds (through Sept. 30) for other critical areas, unless Congress relents to adding more funds. It doesn’t mean the AF has given up on plans to fully clean up Tyndall, which was devastated last October by Hurricane Michael, and rebuild it as a fighter base, but wants Congress to be its insurance. Earlier in FY-19, the AF re-routed $400M to repair and recover Tyndall, but it can no longer continue to divert funds, John Henderson, AF assistant secretary for installations, environment and energy, told reporters at the Pentagon on April 30. The service will withhold funds for 121 project-starts at Tyndall until FY-20. Those projects include cleaning up downed trees, remediating mold, repairing roofs, and demolishing damaged buildings. Funds are also being halted to repair Offutt AFB, Neb., damaged by flooding earlier this year. Another $350M in FY-19 funding was needed to finish the job of cleaning and recovering at Tyndall alone. Congress is beginning to wonder if it’s worth paying to rebuild installations in the way of sea level rise, desertification, natural disasters and drought. But, according to Henderson: “Tyndall is critical because of its vicinity to the water. It’s one of the few bases where we have almost no encroachment … (and the) ability for us to fly unmanned drones out of Tyndall and into Eglin Testing and Training Area doesn’t exist anywhere in the United States,” Henderson said. (Source: Federal News Network 04/30/19)