Friday, October 10, 2025 l Vol. 50, Number 41
SERVING TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE AND THE MILITARY COMMUNITY OF SOLANO COUNTY
571ST MSAS Page 2
ATWG TOUR Page 3
TRAVIS
173RD AIRBORNE BRIGADE Page 6
TAILWIND A product of Daily Republic
REFUEL
READY Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic file (2024)
A C-5 Super Galaxy refuels during a flight from Travis Air Force Base to honor the heritage and legacy of the KC-10 Extender, Aug. 29, 2024.
Space test program expands, astronaut inspires future space test leaders Mary Kozaitis
412TH TEST WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Brian Collett/U.S. Air Force file photos
Airman 1st Class Dutch Miller, left, and Airman 1st Class Brandon Mullen, 60th Maintenance Squadron aircraft
structural maintenance apprentices, reposition a War Wagon workbench at Travis Air Force Base, Sept. 30.
Airman 1st Class Dutch Miller, 60th Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance apprentice, cuts a titanium sheet inside the War Wagon at Travis Air Force Base, Sept. 30. The War Wagon is a mobile, self-contained repair shop enabling airmen to perform aircraft battle damage repair at the point of need while reducing downtime.
Staff Sgt. Colby Marshall, left, 60th Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance supervisor, and Airman 1st Class Dutch Miller, 60th MXS aircraft structural maintenance apprentice, work on aircraft parts using a War Wagon at Travis Air Force Base, Sept. 30.
60 MXS airmen demonstrate War Wagon capabilities
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE — The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School Space Test Course started as a three-month program in January 2021, in collaboration with the newly formed U.S. Space Force, and has been growing ever since. The program evolved to a year-long graduate certificate in Space Test Engineering in 2024 and is set to become a full 40-credit hour master’s degree program, known as the Space Test Engineering concentration in January 2026. TPS graduate, Space Force Guardian and NASA astronaut, Brig. Gen. Nick Hague, who played a crucial role in advocating for the expansion of the Space Test Course, recently visited Edwards Air Force Base to engage with K-12 students, TPS, airmen and their families. From 2005-2006, he was the chief flight test engineer for the 416th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards, previous director of Space Force Test and Evaluation and is now the first-ever Space Force Guardian to travel to space as part of NASA’s Astronaut Corps. “The strength of the Space Force lies in the dedication and expertise of our airmen and guardians,” Hague said. “It’s important to educate people on why research in space is so important and how it fundamentally impacts everyone’s lives on Earth.” Fellow NASA astronaut and retired Navy Capt. Sunita Williams were also a part of the Crew-9/ Expedition 72 return from space and accompanied Hague during the visit to TPS. “The fundamentals of test are universal, applying across all domains,” Karlen said. “This truth was on display as Hague and retired Navy Capt. Williams spoke to the next generation of test leaders and Edwards AFB. We are proud to walk in the footsteps of these test leaders.” Hague’s visit highlighted the critical role of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in national defense and space exploration. “The graduates of the TPS Space Test Course have already been leading the charge in a variety See Space, Page 7