Daily Report

Wednesday May 22, 2013

Tinker Spared from Tornado's Wrath
The ferocious tornado that leveled large swaths of Moore, Okla., on Monday spared Tinker Air Force Base and the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, a base spokeswoman told the Daily Report on Tuesday. Although the base was up and running at mid-day on May 21, many nearby roads were closed and phone lines were down, and Tinker officials were still trying to make an accounting of the nearly 30,000 airmen and civilian employees who work on base, she said. Tinker dispatched assets—emergency vehicles and fire trucks—that, along with many volunteers from the base, were helping local authorities deal with the aftermath of the storms, which killed at least 24 people and destroyed a local school and hospital. The tornado hit about three miles south of Tinker, said base officials in a May 21 release. There are more than 18,000 dependents and 36,000 retirees in the six counties surrounding the base, which is Oklahoma's single largest employer. Tinker units operate E-3 AWACS and KC-135R tankers, and the Oklahoma City depot is the hub of repair and overhaul for the B-1B, B-52, C/KC-135, E-3, and Navy E-6 aircraft, and the F100, F101, F108, F110, F117, F118, F119 and TF-33 engines.
—John A. Tirpak
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Launch Updates
An operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM is set to occur on Wednesday at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., following a one-day delay due to a range safety instrumentation issue, according to a release from Vandy's 30th Space Wing. "Public safety is my first priority during all launch operations," said Col. Brent McArthur, 30th SW vice commander, in explaining the reschedule. Meanwhile, the Air Force is geared to launch the fifth Wideband Global Satellite Communications spacecraft into orbit on May 23 from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., according to a separate release. A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket will carry the military communications satellite aloft.
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AETC Announces Furlough Numbers
The furlough of Defense Department civilian employees will affect 14,434 workers throughout Air Education and Training Command, announced the command. AETC has 822 employees who will be exempt from furlough based on the work they perform; they include safety, medical, and child development center employees, states the command's May 15 release. Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that DOD civilian employees would face up to 11 days of unpaid leave for the period starting on July 8 and running through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. Originally, Pentagon officials thought they'd have to institute up to 22 days of furloughs. The number of furlough hours will not exceed 88 hours, or up to 11 discontinuous work days, states the release. That'd be a 20-percent reduction in pay for those employees over that span. Pentagon officials have said 11 days of furloughs would save an estimated $1.8 billion.
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Northrop Grumman Discusses Embedded Cyber
As budgets continue to decline, the Defense Department's acquisition community is just starting to understand the value of embedded cyber systems, said Northrop Grumman officials during a panel discussion on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. "This is one of those ideas that the acquisition community is just coming to terms with now," said Mike Papay, chief information security officer at Northrop Grumman Information Systems. He added, "It's a tough transition of building that capability. . . . A lot of people want to focus on the capabilities of the system and not necessarily on security." Northrop Grumman is already working with the Air Force on a number of embedded systems, including the AN/APG-81 radar for the F-35 strike fighter, said the officials. "We are working with the US Air Force on next-generation radar, electronic warfare, communications [point-to-point and satellite comms], and secure and open signal processors that have to work in this complex future electromagnetic and cyber environment," said Pat Antkowiak, general manager of the company's electronic systems sector. In addition, the company is working with the Air Force Research Lab on software designed for Global Positioning System satellites and their navigation sensors, said Antkowiak.
—Amy McCullough
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Eglin Exorcising its Demons
Members of the 728th Air Control Squadron, the "Demons," held the unit's inactivation ceremony at Eglin AFB, Fla., according to a base release. The standdown took place on May 17, following the Air Force's decision last year to reduce the number of US-based control and reporting centers from three to two. "This does not mean the end of the 728th ACS or its legacy," said Col. Alexander Koven, commander of the 552nd Air Control Group, the squadron's parent organization, in the May 20 release. "The Demons on active duty will move to other squadrons where they can take the spirited skills they received here and apply them to new locations," he said. The squadron's 240 remaining members are slated to leave Eglin by year's end, states the release. Until then, they will function as a detachment of the 552nd ACG, which is based at Tinker AFB, Okla. The squadron, which traces its history back to 1950, was among the first units to operate radar in the Air Force, states the release. (Eglin report by Chrissy Cuttita)
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Break Out the Healthy Cake
The Air Force's Food Transformation Initiative won the National Restaurant Association's 2013 Operator Innovations Award in the health and nutrition category. Selected by an independent panel of expert judges, the Air Force was one of five winners recognized for achievements in driving advancement in the food service industry, according to NRA's May 19 release. The Food Transformation Initiative—or "Food T" as it is known in food service parlance—"revolutionizes Air Force food selections, cooking methods, meal availability, and merchandising to guide customers toward healthier choices," states the release. "When comparing participating with non-participating operations, performance metrics confirm FTI elevates healthfulness, energy, and alertness through optimal nutrition, without sacrificing flavor, taste and satisfaction," reads the release. The awards ceremony was on May 18 in Chicago; the association chose winners in these categories: food safety, health & nutrition, menu development, sustainability, and technology. The Air Force launched Food T in October 2010 at six test locations (phase Ia). Earlier this month, the service announced that it was implementing phase Ib at five different sites: Eglin AFB, Fla., Ellsworth AFB, S.D., F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., Beale AFB, Calif., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
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Eglin Overhauls Flying Operations
Officials at Eglin AFB, Fla., announced a "major revision" to the base's noise abatement and safety procedures that they say will have a "significant" effect on military flight operations there. Eglin is home to the F-35 schoolhouse. "The new procedures apply to any aircraft launched from Eglin, Duke, or Hurlburt Fields," said Col. Donald Johnson, the 96th Operations Group commander, in a May 17 base release. They apply to aircraft "whether permanently assigned or on temporary duty, as well as transient aircraft that regularly use the air space for test or training," he said. The revision to the base's formal instruction, EAFBI 11-201, is intended to improve safety, while also minimizing noise levels for the surrounding community. For example, officials have increased the minimum flight altitude for all jets and propeller and tiltrotor aircraft to 1,500 feet from 1,000 feet over "highly populated areas" within Eglin's airspace, states the release. They've also reduced thrust levels for takeoff. "Our procedure is to use afterburner up to 300 knots air speed and then reduce power to continue the climb away from the ground," said Johnson. "We need to be aware of how much noise we are generating." (Eglin report by Lois Walsh)
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Keesler Receives Installation Excellence Award
Keesler AFB, Miss., is one of five US military installations to receive the 2013 Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award, announced Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. "The award recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of the people who operate and maintain US military installations," states the Pentagon's May 20 release. It reflects the "excellent working, housing, and recreational conditions" at these installations that allow for "better mission performance and quality of life for its personnel and family members," states the release. Keesler, like the other winners, will receive a commemorative trophy and flag as well as a congratulatory letter from President Obama. The other winners are: Army Garrison Fort Rucker, Ala.; Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.; Naval Support Activity Panama City, Fla.; and Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime in Ohio. Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., was the Air Force's winning installation in 2012.
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Schwartz Elected President, CEO of Business Executives Group
Retired Gen. Norton Schwartz, who stepped down as Chief of Staff last August, will become president and chief executive officer of Business Executives for National Security in July, announced the organization. BENS' board of directors unanimously approved him for these positions on May 20, according to a release. He will replace retired Army Gen. Montgomery Meigs, who will step down on July 22 after more than three years leading the organization, which is based in Washington, D.C. "General Schwartz's 39-year Air Force career was marked with many milestones and praiseworthy achievements, making him an ideal successor to build on the great progress General Meigs delivered for BENS over the last few years," states the release. BENS is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that supports the US government by applying best-business-practice solutions to national security challenges. In the coming weeks and months, Schwartz "will travel to each BENS region to meet with members and discuss ways to continue carrying out our important work," states the release. (Schwartz's official Air Force biography)
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Former Air Commandos Join Hall of Honor
US Special Operations Command inducted two former air commandos, retired CMSgt. Wayne Norrad and retired MSgt. Scott Fales, into its Hall of Honor at MacDill AFB, Fla. The induction took place during a dinner in Tampa on May 15. Norrad, 66, is a former command chief who is credited with being a developmental pioneer of combat control and pararescue, according to a May 17 release from Hurlburt Field, Fla., home of Air Force Special Operations Command. "It's not just me getting this award," said Norrad, who is now a program analyst and public affairs liaison with Hurlburt's 24th Special Operations Wing. "It's everyone who has trained with me, been to war with me, touched me," he said. Fales, a former pararescueman, is a Silver Star Medal recipient. "From his time on the streets of Mogadishu in 1993 to merging combat development technologies in his current job, Mr. Fales epitomizes the can-do culture of AFSOC and represents the best of America," said Col. Robert Armfield, 24th SOW commander. The hall of honor recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves through contributions to the special operations community. (Hurlburt report by Rachel Arroyo) (For more on Fales, read Heroes at Mogadishu from Air Force Magazine's archives.)
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On the Record

This Month

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25 Years Ago

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50 Years Ago

The Future of Manned Aircraft
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The Great Deterrent Dialogue
Missiles, bombers, space weapons, arms control are all advanced as essential to deter general war. Many participants engaging in this debate are long on words, short on knowledge.