Lt. Col. Rick Stoffel, an instructor pilot assigned to Air Force Reserve Command’s 39th Flying Training Squadron at JBSA-Randolph, Tex., recently surpassed 5,000 flight hours in the T-1A Jayhawk, according to base officials. Accumulating that much flying time in one aircraft type is considered a rare feat, according to a mid-October Randolph release. “This vast experience has made him a top-tier instructor as well as a mentor for incoming instructor pilots,” said Lt. Col. Gavin Marks, commander of Randolph’s 99th FTS. Stoffel’s Reserve unit helps operate the 99th FTS’ T-1s under an association. Although Stoffel began his Air Force career as a KC-10 pilot, he has been teaching pilots in the T-1 for the past 15 years, states the release. “Our Reservists are a backbone of our unit,” said Marks. “You can’t manufacture guys like Rick [Stoffel]; he provides my schoolhouse instant credibility.” (Randolph report by 2nd Lt. Keenan Kunst)
U.S. Military Needs an EMS Warfare Czar
May 11, 2021
The Pentagon needs an overseer at the highest level for the joint electromagnetic warfare fight to coordinate responses to China and Russia, experts said at a Hudson Institute webinar. The services' fragmented approach can be overcome by the enterprise approach taken by U.S. adversaries, they said. Members of Congress on…