Travis Tailwind: February 20, 2026

TRAVIS TAILWIND

Secretary of the a ir force Public a ffairS

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, Washington, D.C. — Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach hosted members of the Arlington Committee for an appreciation luncheon, Feb. 10. For 77 years, the Arlington Committee has been attending funerals for Air Force veterans, representing the CSAF, his spouse and the entire Air Force Family at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. With the formation of the Space Force in 2019, the committee now also represents the CSO, his spouse and the Space Force family.

“One of my priorities is taking care of airmen and their families, and I can say that you are achieving that priority,” Wilsbach told the committee. “By participating in the services, it helps all of us to never forget the sacrifice of our service members and their families.”

In 1948, Gladys Vandenberg, wife of the second CSAF, Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg, witnessed airmen being buried with only a chaplain and bugler present. She vowed that “No airman would be buried alone.”

Since the creation of the Air Force Officers’ Wives’ Club that same year, more than 600 members of this committee have attended 30,000 veteran funeral services, committing time to make sure

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lauren boggs

ROBINS AIR FORCE

BASE, Ga. — Airmen at Robins Air Force Base are helping to solve a growing problem among American pilots and aircrews around the world.

The Federal Aviation Administration says laser strikes on aircraft have increased by almost 48% since 2020 with more than 10,000 incidents alone reported in 2025.

Pointing a laser at an aircraft became a federal crime in 2012 and can result in a penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Violators can also face FAA fines in addition to local and state criminal penalties.

“These strikes can cause serious and, in some cases, permanent eye damage, with health concerns ranging from temporary flash blindness to severe retinal injuries,” said Master Sgt. Bridgette Brzezinski, 78th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron Bioenvironmental Engineering flight chief. “Laser exposures can severely disrupt critical phases of flight, such as takeoff and landing, and can have significant psychological effects on aircrew even at distances where ocular damage is unlikely.”

To combat this threat, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Human Systems Division, or AFLCMC/ROU, is pioneering the next generation of protective technology.

The AFLCMC/ROU, based at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is working with their Operations and Support team at Robins AFB on the Aircrew Laser Eye Protection – Technology Insertion program, an evolutionary acquisition program that replaces and upgrades laser protection eyewear every five to seven years.

Kevin Frost, AFLCMC/ROU Operation and Support mechanical engineer, and Eric Miltner, AFLCMC/ ROU Operations and

Support equipment specialist, are providing vital sustainment considerations to help develop improved eyewear to reduce the dangerous impacts of laser attacks on aircrews.

They are now working to field a new kit known as the Block 3 family of products. It is made up of six modular devices that are each worn under specific conditions during takeoffs and landings. The kit includes separate day, night and ballistics spectacles, and visors that provide peripheral protection while wearing night vision goggles.

Frost and Miltner say the latest changes include a new dye that can filter a wider range of light wavelengths and a new version of the night spectacles that allows more natural light through the lens, increasing visibility for aircrews.

“The main difference is that the Block 3s filter more wavelengths of light and provide more protection than the Block 2s,” Miltner said.

The duo also collaborates with technicians and airmen in the field to ensure that their technical orders and manuals are easily understood by the people that use the equipment every day.

“We go to an actual base where people are going to be using this equipment,” Miltner said. “We show them the manual, and we let them walk through the steps without us assisting just to make sure it all makes sense.”

“When we see thousands of airmen using ALEP and the equipment that we maintain, it helps give us more meaning in our work,” Frost said. “It helps us make sure that they have everything they need, because a lot of this stuff is critical safety equipment, and we want to keep our airmen and aircraft safe while they’re in the air.”

AFLCMC/ROU plans to field more than 45,000 devices to Air Force units by 2029.

Combat ForCes Command

PubliC a FFairs

MAUI, Hawaii — Restoration efforts continue at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex (MSSC) where a lightning strike caused an emergency generator malfunction and resulting fuel spill approximately three years ago. Remediation is currently in phases three and four of a four-phase remediation plan.

“Restoring the land in a way that is culturally informed has been and continues to be our top priority to ensure we do this right,” said U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Douglas Thornton, 15th Space Surveillance Squadron commander. “Our quarterly meetings have been essential to our process, ensuring local community representatives are well informed on the process, timeline, and intent of clean-up efforts.

“Immediately upon discovery, the 15th SPSS team initiated a rapid response that was followed by a true whole-of-community effort,” Thornton said. Remediation efforts have been a coordinated and collaborative effort between the Department of the Air Force; Hawaii Department of Health; GSI North America, a Native Hawaiian Organization and Small Business Administration certified company contracted for remedial action at the MSSC; members of the Maui community; and many others.

On Jan. 29, 2023, as a result of a lightning strike during a storm, the emergency generator at the MSSC malfunctioned and leaked approximately 720 gallons of fuel onto the concrete generator pad and flowed to the adjacent soil. Further assessment determined an impact to approximately 750 square feet of soil in the vicinity of the generator and

400 square feet of additional soil downslope.

The remediation activity is a four-phase approach. Phase One involved the immediate response, which included excavating and storing approximately 30 cubic yards of affected soil at the site.

Phase Two involved further assessment of the affected area to determine the best remedy for the entirety of the site. Numerous engagements with cultural advisors and various other agencies determined the least invasive remedy for the fuel spill.

Phase Three included initiation of the remedial action. The identified onsite remedy includes active bioventing and landfarming of the soil already excavated. One of the primary benefits of these remedies is that they are effective onsite technologies that mini-

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C. Todd Lopez PENTAGON NEWS

MARCH AIR

RESERVE BASE — At March Air Reserve Base, Feb. 15., a next-generation nuclear reactor was loaded aboard a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for transport to Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The reactor will eventually head to the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab for testing and evaluation.

The Ward 250 is a 5 megawatt nuclear reactor that fits into the back of a C-17 aircraft could theoretically power about 5,000 homes.

For military use, such a reactor could provide energy security on a military base ensuring the mission there need not depend on the civilian power grid, and in military operations overseas, such reactors would mean U.S. forces could operate without concern that an enemy might cut fuel supplies.

A reactor such as the Ward 250 also means greater energy security for the entire United States. It is firmly in line with President Donald J. Trump’s executive orders to reshape and modernize America’s nuclear energy landscape.

The president signed four executive orders designed to advance America’s nuclear energy posture, May 23, 2025. Those include “Rein-

vigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base,” “Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing at the Department of Energy,” “Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regula tory Commission” and “Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Tech nologies for National Security.”

Michael P. Duffey, the undersecretary of war for acquisition and sustainment, said the partnership between the War and Energy Departments is critical to advancing the president’s nuclear energy initiatives.

“It’s clear to me that advancing President Trump’s priority on nuclear energy depends on close coordination between the Department of Energy and the Department of War,” Duffey said. “This partnership ensures advanced nuclear technologies are developed, evaluated and deployed in ways that strengthen energy resilience and national security.”

The future of warfare is energy-intensive, he said, and includes AI data centers, directed-energy weapons, and space and cyber infrastructure. The civilian power grid was not built for that, and so the War Department will need to build its own energy infrastructure.

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MSCC

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network that circulates air below the generator site. These systems became fully operational in July 2025, and active monitoring and testing will continue for the next three to seven years in order to assess effectiveness and reach remediation goals.

Phase Four focuses on containment, which involves the development of a containment system to begin later this year

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service members receive the burial they deserve.

“Death and funerals are rarely easy,” Saltzman said. “Attending services for your loved ones is dutiful, but electing to do so for others goes beyond the call of duty. Your presence at their services –representing not just me and General Wilsbach, but the entirety of the Air Force and Space Force family – lets them know they are not, and will never be, alone in their loss.”

The Arlington Committee now attends approximately 700 funerals a year, ensuring that the Air Force and Space Force family is always present when any airman or guardian is laid to rest.

to ensure any future incidents would not result in impact to the soil.

“It’s important to us that we maintain open lines of communication and ensure we take appropriate action when issues arise,” Thornton said. “We are cognizant of the cultural significance of our operational location to provide essential space domain awareness and continue to build trust with the community in which we live and work. Our relationship with the community enables our critical mission to succeed on the island.”

379th AEW, Al Udeid AB host Partnership Day

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379TH AIR EXPEDITIONARY WING

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar — The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing hosted a Partnership Day at Al Udeid Air Base, Feb. 11.

The event showcased interoperability and appreciation for host nation partners, bringing together Qatari military members, families, U.S. Embassy Doha representatives, joint U.S. service members and coalition forces.

“This is our chance to open the gates, show off our capabilities, and –more importantly – build a closer relationship with our Qatari hosts,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Olivia Moss, 379th AEW host nation coordination cell director. “At the end of the day, we work better when we aren’t just ‘counterparts,’ but a united team that understands the people and culture we’re working alongside.”

At Al Udeid AB, Qataris and Americans

games and immersive displays. The 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and 379th Expeditionary Medical Squadron also showcased their capabilities through military working dog and medical evacuation demonstrations, respectively.

“I feel honored and grateful for the opportunity to organize an event that strengthens the relationship with our host nation partners,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Rachel Sax, 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron weather flight commander and event project officer.

work together to generate combat airpower.

The very aircraft used to operate out of Al Udeid to support operations within the area of responsibility were set up as static displays, including the Qatar Emiri Air Force F-15 Eagle, C-17A Globemaster III, AH-64 Apache, and U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker.

“Today, as we gather on the flightline surrounded by the impressive air-

craft and equipment that symbolize our shared capabilities, we are reminded of the enduring partnership between the United States and Qatar,” said U.S. Embassy Doha Chargé d’Affaires Mo Barghouty.

“As we enjoy the static displays and demonstrations, let us remember that our greatest strength lies in our unity and shared purpose.”

Attendees were able to share moments and foster camaraderie over music,

“Our team put in a great deal of work to make this airshow a success. An event like this is a fantastic way to showcase not only how we work together, but also our overall mission and the impact we have in the region.”

For more than two decades, the two militaries have worked together in coalition operations, humanitarian missions and regional defense.

Special Agents examine AF history from behind-the-scenes

Force Office of Special Investigations units at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, took part in a behind-thescenes tour of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Jan. 21, combining team building with a close look at how Air Force history is preserved.

The participating units, the 10th Field Investigative Squadron (FIS), National Security Detachment 1 (NSD), Procurement Fraud Det. 4 (PF) and Special Projects Det. 2 (PJ) began the day in the museum’s restoration hangar.

There, museum volunteers guided them through active restoration projects and explained the historical significance of aircraft awaiting future display.

According to Special Agent Beth A. Wager, Special Agent in Charge of NSD 1, who organized the event, it required coordination across multiple organizations. “This event took coordination between the four units, including bus transportation and the museum staff to ensure there was enough interest and guides to support the tour,” she said.

Among the highlights was The Swoose, the World War II–era B-17 Flying Fortress recognized as

the oldest surviving intact B-17 and the only remaining D-model, which flew combat missions during the earliest days of U.S. involvement in the war.

Special Agents also viewed a Cold War–era MC-12W intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, the rare Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster experimental bomber, one of only two prototypes built, and a full-scale model of the Orion drone, a developmental aircraft concept that never flew.

Each aircraft is being carefully restored for eventual exhibition at the museum or other military institutions. For many of the participants, the access and depth of the tour stood out.

“This tour was awesome,” said Special Agent Nicolas Boyd, a counterintelligence agent with 10th FIS. “I’m a huge history fan, and it was right up my alley.”

Later in the day, the group moved to the museum’s archives and collections department, where staff explained how Department of the Air Force history is preserved and brought to the public.

The Research Division manages a collection of documents and photographs, much of it donated by the public, with volunteers sorting and cataloging thousands of items to support historians’ research and ensure accurate representation.

According to Boyd, the

professionalism and pride of the museum staff were evident throughout the visit. “The guides and staff were extremely knowledgeable and clearly proud of their work, which really showed in the craftsmanship and the overall tour experience,” he said.

Museum staff also demonstrated modern preservation practices. To personalize the visit, they selected artifacts tied to the history of AFOSI across multiple eras, offering Special Agents a direct connection to their organization’s heritage.

During this portion of the tour, agents learned how fragile materials, including documents and

Joint Force in Indian Ocean marks first Lightfish unmanned vessel launch

navy LT heaTher Chairez U.S. 6TH FLEET PUBLIC AFFAIRS

VICTORIA , Seychelles — Commander Task Force 66 launched the Lightfish, an unmanned surface vessel, for the first time from a partner nation’s vessel during Exercise Cutlass Express 26 off the coast of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, Feb. 9. The launch was part of an unmanned systems training event with the Seychelles Coast Guard, designed to test the Lightfish’s abilities in the open ocean with limited connection.

“We are making history at Cutlass Express 26 by demonstrating our enhanced warfighting skills through our robotic and unmanned capabilities alongside our maritime partners,” said Navy Lt. Bryna Loranger, CTF 66 operations officer. “[U.S.] 6th Fleet is seeking new ways to build partner maritime domain awareness capabilities during this exercise by promoting interoperability. Through sharing and experimenting with Seychelles Coast Guard assets and infrastructure, we are enhancing our expeditionary robotic autonomous systems capabilities in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility.”

CTF 66 is a fully uncrewed task force that uses advanced technologies, like artificial intelligence, to help the 6th Fleet and its partners move faster to maintain a strong presence across Africa’s maritime zones while detecting illegal activity.

The task force is

leading the Navy in innovating its approach to warfighting during an age when information systems, technology and vulnerabilities in the global economy are being weaponized by adversaries operating in the gray zone, outside the domain of traditional warfare.

“Through exercises like Cutlass Express 26, we are adapting alongside our partners by integrating unmanned tactics directly into operations,” said Navy Rear Adm. Kelly Ward, director of strategic effects for CTF 66. “We are leaning into this domain hand in hand with our partners, translating innovation into warfighting readiness and enhancing maritime security to protect freedom of navigation.”

Cutlass Express 26 has 19 partners and allies working together through a series of shore-based training events. The exercise provides all participating nations with an opportunity to work side by side to synchronize and rehearse real-world scenarios that will include medical training, visit, board, search and seizure and maritime interdiction training, as well as counter illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing procedures.

Established in May 2024, CTF 66 is the 6th Fleet’s first alldomain task force designed to integrate robotic and autonomous systems with naval, joint and NATO partners in the European and African theaters of operations. Since its establishment, the task force has driven See Vessel, Page 7

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textiles, are stored in large, refrigerated units designed to slow deterioration. Wager said many participants were surprised by how much of the museum’s collection remains out of public view.

“They have thousands upon thousands of artifacts in storage, some still boxed and waiting to be cataloged, others being preserved that the public may never see,” she said. “We were allowed a small peek behind the curtain, and it was amazing to see some of our history up close.”

The visit concluded with a look at the craftsmanship behind exhibit development. Artisans from the Restoration and Exhibits divisions showed how skills in metalworking, woodworking, sheet metal fabrication and precision painting are used to build custom display cases, full-scale replicas and immersive exhibits enhanced with theatrical lighting and detailed displays.

“I learned a lot that I didn’t know before, espe-

cially about how much work and preparation goes into preparing items for different museums and how many artifacts are acquired,” Boyd said. Inside the museum’s Storage Hangar were aircraft young and old awaiting restoration or future exhibition, including an F-16 Fighting Falcon, a Stearman PT-17 Kaydet with Tuskegee Airmen history, and a German Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft from World War II.

The Presidential Gallery, located in the museum’s fourth building includes SAM 26000, the VC-137C that served as Air Force One for President John F. Kennedy. The hangar also houses nine other Presidential aircraft that served presidents as far back as Franklin Roosevelt.

In the end, the tour offered Special Agents a detailed view of the work that goes into preserving Air Force history while reinforcing a shared connection to AFOSI’s legacy.

“I would highly recommend visiting the museum if you have the opportunity,” Boyd said. “There’s something there that will speak to everyone.”

317th AW leads Spring 2026

C-130 WSC, integrates with I MEF

DYESS

BASE, Texas — The 317th Airlift Wing led the Spring 2026 C-130 Weapon System Council (WSC) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, coordinating with I Marine Expeditionary Force to further integration of rapid air mobility concepts and strengthen Joint tactical airlift capabilities across the Joint and Total Force, Feb. 4-5. The C-130 WSC is a biannual forum that brings together wing commanders and command chiefs from across the activeduty, guard and reserve wings to assess tactics, refine procedures, and accelerate concepts for forward employment of the aircraft in crisis, contingency, or conflict.

Courtesy file photo

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force identifies a teddy bear named Col. Elmer E. Elmer, the official mascot for the crew of the B-29 “Deacon’s Disciples,” a Superfortress that set a long-distance flight record from Hawaii to Washington.

Building on the momentum from the Fall 2025 WSC hosted at Dyess AFB, this iteration focused on integrating capabilities and schemes of maneuver across the Air Force and Marine Corps through Joint discussions with I MEF commanders and leadership teams, marking the first time that a C-130 WSC was held at a Joint partner base.

United States is aiming for a nuclear energy renaissance.

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“Powering next generation warfare will require us to move faster than our adversaries, to build a system that doesn’t just equip our warfighters to fight, but equips them to win at extraordinary speed,” Duffey said.

“Today is a monumental step toward building that system. By supporting the industrial base and its capacity to innovate, we accelerate the delivery of resilient power to where it’s needed.”

“The American nuclear renaissance is to get that ball moving again, fast, carefully, but with private capital, American innovation and determination,” Wright said. “President Trump signed multiple executive orders that have unleashed tremendous reform of all the things that stopped the American nuclear industry from moving.”

“The airmen of the 317th Airlift Wing continue to set the pace and raise the bar, integrating with the Joint Force and finding creative ways to maneuver faster,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Justin Diehl, 317th AW commander and WSC chair. “This WSC allowed us to share real mission data and integrate with our Joint partners from I MEF to be postured for future contingencies, as well as deliberately prepare with the Marine units that we will partner with during Exercise Balikatan 2026 in the Philippines.”

In addition to the council, the 317 AW flew two C-130J aircraft assigned to the 39th and 40th Airlift Squadrons to Camp Pendleton. Hosting the event at a Marine Corps base also afforded airmen and Marines to execute training, specifically Specialized Fueling Operations and long-range fires insertion.

Tactical Air Ground Refueling Systems to Naval Landing Field, San Clemente Island. Marines assigned to the Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 worked with Air Force loadmasters to offload the equipment onto the island, prepare the ground, and lay fuel hoses while aircraft engines remained running.

Following island operations, the equipment was

airlifted back to Camp Pendleton, where airmen and Marines conducted rapid hot pit fueling operations. Pilots, loadmasters, flying crew chiefs, and Marine expeditionary fuel technicians then measured how quickly they could upload 5,000 pounds of fuel to the aircraft.

Simultaneously, the other aircraft conducted airlift operations with the

M142 HIMARS, the Marine Corps’ advanced rocket artillery system. Weighing approximately 12 tons, the HIMARS provides long-range, precision fires critical to Joint and distributed operations across the Indo-Pacific, and the C-130J enables its rapid employment and insertion in austere locations.

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said that with small reactors like those transferred from March Air Reserve Base to Hill Air Force

Part of that effort, he said, will mean that by July 4, the administration expects three small reactors will be critical – or running smoothly.

the

“That’s speed, that’s innovation, that’s the start of a nuclear renaissance,” Wright said.

“Our airmen are very good at Specialized Fueling Operations and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) movement,” said Chief Master Sgt. Martin Castillo, 317th AW Command Chief. “What makes this different is executing those capabilities alongside I MEF, building trust, interoperability and professional relationships that matter most when it’s time to deploy forward.”

As part of the SFO scenario, C-130Js stationed at Dyess Air Force Base and Little Rock Air Force Base airlifted Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicles equipped with

AF validates open architecture, expands

Collaborative Combat Aircraft ecosystem

Secretary of the a ir force

Public a ffairS

ARLINGTON, Va. —

The Air Force continues accelerating its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program by implementing the government-owned Autonomy Government Reference Architecture across multiple vendor platforms. This effort validates a cornerstone of the service’s acquisition transformation: using a modular, open-systems approach to supercharge the defense industrial base.

This initiative is a prime example of the department’s new approach to acquisition – one that prioritizes speed, innovation and a software-first mindset. The A-GRA is being integrated by the program’s mission autonomy vendors, RTX Collins and Shield AI, which have started semi-autonomous flight testing in partnership with General Atomics on the YFQ-42 platform and Anduril on the YFQ-44, respectively. By proving the architecture functions effectively

YFQ-44 aircraft are parked on the flightline for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program at a California test location. The CCA initiative is transforming

the acquisition process by proving a government-owned open architecture can break vendor lock and speed the delivery of superior capabilities to the warfighter.

across different airframes and mission autonomy from different vendors, the Air Force is demonstrating that mission software can be decoupled from specific vehicle hardware, breaking down barriers for technology integration

and fostering a more competitive and innovative ecosystem.

“Verifying A-GRA across multiple partners is critical to our acquisition strategy,” said Col. Timothy Helfrich, Portfolio Acquisition executive for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft. “It proves that we are not locked into a single solution or a single vendor. We are instead building a competitive ecosystem where the best algorithms can be deployed rapidly to the warfighter on any A-GRA compliant platform, regardless of the vendor providing the algorithm.

The A-GRA is a Modular Open System Approach, designed to prevent “vendor lock” by establishing a universal standard for mission autonomy. This allows the Air Force to rapidly onboard new software and algorithms from a diverse range of traditional and

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“Our airmen understand the strategic importance of what we carry,” said Castillo. “We can maneuver the Joint Force and their equipment into any environment, deliver the needed effects and bring them home safely. That’s rapid air mobility in action.”

Following Joint fuel and HIMARS operations, Marine firefighters assigned to the MWSS-372 concluded by conducting aircraft rescue and firefighting response drills on the C-130J, supported by and working alongside airmen from the 317th AW to enhance Joint emergency response readiness and procedures.

The final day of the council sessions featured senior leader

engagements and enterprise-level discussions. A senior enlisted leadership sync brought together Marine Corps sergeant majors and Air Force chief master sergeants to discuss enlisted development, challenges, and integration. The council concluded with an outbrief led by Col Diehl to participating C-130 units and Air Mobility Command representatives.

“There is immense value in these conversations with our Joint leadership counterparts.”

Diehl said. “The Joint Force only becomes stronger and more capable when we build relationships through routine engagement. Our partnership with the I MEF is growing rapidly, which means our understanding of how to better integrate with one another is rapidly growing capability and response time for the entire Joint Force.”

Senior Airman Jade M. Caldwell/U.S. Air Force file Marines assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Division receive a tour of a C-130J Super Hercules from Air Force Capt. Sydney Pasterski, 40th Airlift Squadron pilot, during the Spring 2026 C-130 Weapon System Council at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Feb. 3. Pasterski answered questions related to emergency equipment and response procedures on the aircraft, strengthening joint safety awareness and coordination between airmen and I Marine Expeditionary Force personnel.

Courtesy photo

YFQ-42 aircraft sit on the flightline as part of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft flight test campaign at a California test location. The CCA program validates a modular, open-systems approach, allowing the Air Force to rapidly integrate the best technology from any vendor to equip the warfighter faster.

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non-traditional industry partners. This approach is central to the Air Force’s effort to create a more agile and lethal force, capable of outpacing evolving threats.

Air Force lieutenant brings enlisted perspective forward

11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, Washington, D.C. — The clock ticked beneath the fluorescent lights of a medical office as a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant sat anxiously waiting. It was the same feeling experienced by every Officer Training School applicant on this specific Friday.

She remembered seeing a post on social media announcing the OTS acceptance list release earlier that morning.

“My heart was beating so fast I felt like I was going to pass out,” said now-2nd Lt. Alexandra Roque, vehicle maintenance flight commander of the 11th Logistics Readiness Squadron. “Then I heard my name being called over the intercom to come to the commander’s office.”

Only three weeks prior, Roque learned the Air Force would hold a lastminute supplemental OTS board to fill additional manning needs. She had to assemble her application package in a hurry. With the support of her medical squadron of about 70 airmen and leadership who actively mentored her, she met the deadline.

processed waivers for the installation in support of aircrews.

“We are seeing the vision of a modular, adaptable force come to life,” the Agile Development Office director said. “Integrating A-GRA onto multiple platforms so quickly demonstrates that our open-system approach works. It allows us to iterate tactics and capabilities across the fleet at a pace that keeps us ahead of the threat.”

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innovation and developed unmanned technologies to enhance the way militaries integrate naval platforms across all domains, all of which are enabled by this emerging technology.

CTF 66 currently maintains 22 USVs; however, the task force expects to double its lethality as additional assets reach operational readiness. These USVs

As the program advances, the continuous evaluation of the A-GRA provides the foundational data needed to field a decisive operational capability. This effort directly supports the National Defense Strategy by developing platforms that complement major weapons systems and ensures the Air Force remains on track to deliver an affordable, adaptable, and potent force multiplier for the joint force.

increase maritime domain awareness and serve as force multipliers.

Exercises like Cutlass Express allow CTF 66 to leverage strong collaboration with partners and allied nations to operate large numbers of unmanned systems at scale. These partnerships enable the task force to preposition and deploy assets in host countries ahead of time.

CTF 66 and its USVs continue to enhance deterrence, lethality and capabilities in the European and African theaters of operations.

When her commander announced her as an OTS selectee, the moment took a second to register. She was so flustered she forgot to provide the customary salute.

“It still haunts me,” said Roque, laughing. “I was shaking the whole time.” Roque was the only selectee at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., in August 2024.

The first call she made wasn’t to her husband but to her mother.

“She didn’t even graduate high school,” Roque said. “She had me at 16 and wanted me to do well in life so she was very happy when she heard the news.”

The achievement was significant, but it was the result of a longer journey, one that started with a hunger for something more.

Roque joined the Air Force in 2015 with a practical goal: education. Raised in a small town with little military presence, she saw the service as an opportunity to leave home, attend college and build a future.

By the time she was 18, newly arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the Air Force felt abstract.

Starting out in the Air Force, Roque worked long shifts as an aerospace medical technician in inpatient pediatrics at Brooke Army Medical Center, a

Level I trauma center and one of the military’s largest hospitals. She helped care for hospitalized children at BAMC for three years. The job exposed her early to high-stakes care and emotional strain.

“We saw a lot of service members with young children that had very aggressive cancers,” she said. “A lot of the children passed away shortly after diagnosis. That was hard (to see), especially at 18.”

For Roque, medical was just a logical choice because it was a career field she could use both in and out of the military.

“I had a hard time correlating what my job did for the Air Force,” she added. “You’re taking care of kids but you don’t always see how that impacts the force.”

Her enlisted career didn’t begin with standout evaluations or awards. She described her early years as marked by a narrow focus on doing the job and not necessarily going beyond it.

“I adapted a negative attitude I saw around me,” she said. “I did my job well, but I didn’t care about volunteering or networking outside my section.”

However, that all changed after she assumed a leadership position.

Roque became the noncommissioned officer in charge of JBLM’s operational medical clinic in 2020 after retraining into flight medicine. There, she oversaw deployment screenings, managed medical readiness and

Understanding how enlisted performance briefs, promotion boards and commissioning packages worked opened Roque’s eyes to the importance of engagement outside of her specific duty assignment.

Roque volunteered extensively, took on leadership roles in booster clubs and base organizations and doubled down on education. In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree in health care administration, she earned two master’s degrees, one in business administration and another in leadership and management.

“Getting an education was the whole goal of joining the Air Force in the first place,” she said. “Because my EPBs (Enlisted Performance Briefs) weren’t so great, I also had to make sure I was competitive with my educational achievements.”

Coming from a family where only a few relatives had completed high school, two master’s degrees and a commission also represented something larger than a career milestone for Roque. Roque also discovered something else which guided her future in the Air Force.

“After reviewing medical records across the base, I saw how many people in the Air Force struggle with mental health,” Roque said. “If your members aren’t doing

well mentally, your unit isn’t going to be effective.” This reality set the core objective for Roque as a logistics readiness officer. Within months of arriving at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in 2025 as a newly minted lieutenant, she was already helping airmen navigate mental health challenges by connecting them with chaplains, Military OneSource and medical care. Her prior-enlisted background, coupled with medical experience, helped her connect with her enlisted airmen and understand situations from their perspective.

“I’ve been in long enough to help people avoid the mistakes I made,” she said. “That’s the most important part to me.” As Roque transitioned from medical to logistics she faced a steep learning curve. Currently, she oversees sections ranging from vehicle maintenance and fuels to supply and transportation, which are fields far removed from pediatrics or flight medicine.

“As enlisted, you’re the subject matter expert,” she said. “Here, I don’t know how to do maintenance. I can’t just grab a wrench and fix things myself.” Instead, she shows up. She spends time on the shop floor, learns equipment names, helps where she can and focuses on removing administrative barriers for her team.

“Sometimes the civilians will say, ‘I’ve never seen a flight commander come down here and work with us,’” she said. “They would say, ‘I like your style.’” Now, the prior-enlisted airman brings 10 years of medical experience, and leadership lessons learned the hard way into her first assignment as an officer. Whether it’s guiding airmen through assignments, deployments or simply explaining how the Air Force works, Roque is committed to giving others the same guidance and support that once shaped her own path.