Daisy Grant

Staff Writer

Rev. A. Byron Coleman III, with Fifth Street Missionary Baptist Church, was the guest speaker at the Black History Month Luncheon at the Tinker Club Feb. 21. Rev. Coleman also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the African/African-American Studies Program at the University of Oklahoma. (U.S. Air Force photos/Kelly White)

In a luncheon held Feb. 21 at the Tinker Club, Oklahoma City-based Rev. Amos Byron Coleman III spoke to members of Team Tinker about the importance of Black History Month and learning about the past.

An adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma, Coleman said he was once asked by a student why people should learn about the history of racism, aligning it with reopening wounds and preventing healing.

Coleman said knowledge of history is “vitally important” to the survival of culture, legacy and lineage.

“A people without a knowledge of their past, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. It is impossible for me to stand here as a separate entity within myself. I am connected to people. I am connected to a lineage, I am connected to a history,” Coleman said.

Coleman said modern success despite history is also important to note.

Chaplain Capt. Okechukwu Nwaneri, president of Tinker’s African American Heritage Council, gave the invocation at the Black History Month Luncheon Feb. 21. He also presented a donation to the Fifth Street Missionary Baptist Church on behalf of the Tinker African American Heritage Council.

“African American history can never be a footnote, because that history is interwoven into the fabric of this country. To ignore it, to dismiss it, would be like amputating a healthy limb from your body,” he said.

“It is within history you learn the resilience and fortitude, the determination of a people that for decades have been marginalized.”

Before lunch was served and Coleman took the stage, 72nd Air Base Wing Commander Col. Kenyon Bell recognized the contributions of Maj. Gen. Marcelite Harris, the first African American woman to hold the title of Aircraft Maintenance Officer or rank of major general.

Harris held the position of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex vice commander from 1990 to 1993, later retiring in 1997.

“For her to break ground during that time of our nation’s history and be the first African American woman to hold that title is very significant,” Bell said.

“We don’t have to go far to understand that black history is still being made right around us, and that … African Americans are still making significant contributions.”

Bell challenged luncheon attendees to not just recognize the big names in black history, but take the time to learn about the lesser-known individuals who made strides in equal rights.

“Learn a new story so you can clearly and personally articulate the contributions of … an African American person and the contributions that have been made. Share that story, because that is really what this is all about,” Bell said.

Megan Prather

The Tinker Club is being transformed into Tinker’s new Event Center. Food services will no longer be available at the Tinker Club beginning March 2. (Air Force photo/Kelly White)

Staff Writer

The Tinker Club is going through a time of transformation and to meet the needs of Tinker’s populace, will convert to an event center beginning March 1.

Dwindling membership numbers resulting in financial losses for the club are contributing factors to the change. No more lunches or dinners will be served after March 1, but the facility will continue to be a place to gather for comradery, meetings and events. The lounges and barber shop are currently planned to continue.

With the conversion to an event center, there will no longer be a charge for use of rooms. Services offered at the facility such as the lounges and barber shop are currently planned to continue to operate within the new Tinker Event Center.

Continuing with the transformation, the Tinker Event Center will shut down sometime this summer to undergo a complete overhaul to the HVAC System. During the renovation time, the lounge will move to the golf course, with the barber shop still planned to operate out of the new event center. More details will come later.

The class of 2019 Honorary Commanders received a tour of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex on Feb. 27. From left, Shauna Smith, adjunct professor Moore-Norman Technology Center; Todd Stone, Oklahoma City councilman; Kaley Stewart, Del City Chamber of Commerce executive director; Col. James Malec, Defense Logistics Agency-Aviation commander; Col. Kenyon Bell, 72nd Air Base Wing Commander; Col. Todd Schug, 38th Cyberspace Engineering Installation Group commander; Kevin Stamey, Air Force Sustainment Center executive director; Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, Osage Nation chief; Lt. Gen. Gene Kirkland, AFSC commander; James Gallogly, University of Oklahoma president; Brig. Gen. Chris Hill, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex commander; Sherry Jordan, Edmond Chamber of Commerce president/CEO; Timothy Pehrson, Integris Health president/CEO; Tami Constable, Oklahoma Business Roundtable director of Operations; Ronnie Freeman, partner with Premier Capital Partners; Christine Martin, Cox Communications Central Region director of Communications; Leo Portman, attorney; and Allyson Carson, Leadership Oklahoma membership director. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kelly White)

Megan Prather

Staff Writer

The Tinker Air Force Base class of 2019 Honorary Commanders received a tour of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex on Feb. 27 where they got an up close and personal look at what goes into the process of depot maintenance, supply chain management and installation support.

Lt. Gen. Gene Kirkland, AFSC commander, provides the group with an overview of the work done by the Air Force Sustainment Center. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kelly White)

Before the tour began, Honorary Commanders were briefed by Lt. Gen. Gene Kirkland, Air Force Sustainment Center commander, who provided an overview of the work done by the AFSC. The general emphasized the importance the maintenance workforce places on both efficiency and timeliness in support of the warfighter.

“Time matters in this because every day that the asset is in our depot is one day that the warfighter who uses it doesn’t have it,” Kirkland said.

Various stations were set up throughout the complex with members of the maintenance groups briefing the Honorary Commanders about specifics of their job on a day-to-day basis.

The group had the opportunity to hear from Karl Koch and Keely Greenwood, both with the 76th Maintenance Support Squadron about the work they do examining large engine parts using the world’s largest scanning electron microscope. The group made their way through the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group F135 engine line and got a look at a KC-135 Stratotanker going through depot maintenance with the 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group.

Brig. Gen. Chris D. Hill, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex commander told the group that the depot maintenance process is similar to re-building a house brick-by-brick as every five years each plane must be inspected piece-by-piece for maintenance.

The group also received a tour of Bldg. 9001, with stops at the Reverse Engineering and Critical Tooling Lab, and the 76th Software Maintenance Group.

“Tinker Air Force Base is the heartbeat of our Air Force mission.  It sustains operations across the world,” University of Oklahoma President and 2018-19 Honorary Commander James L. Gallogly said. “I was excited to see how Oklahomans made such a difference in our national defense effort.  I also saw opportunities for our students to share in that mission upon graduation.”

The Honorary Commanders Program is a one-year program and a long-standing tradition of collaboration between community leaders and Tinker AFB senior leaders with a goal of strengthening relationships and communication between off-base and military leadership. This also provides civilian and military leadership with an opportunity to learn about their partners’ mission and personal leadership style.

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

ARLINGTON, VA. — Upon a favorable final vote by the regents, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson announced her resignation March 8, after serving in her position as the service’s top civilian since May 2017, to accept the role as president of the University of Texas at El Paso.

Wilson will continue to serve as the 24th Secretary of the Air Force until May 2019.

“It has been a privilege to serve our Airmen over the past two years,” said Wilson in her letter of resignation to the President of the United States. “I am proud of the progress we have made to restore our nation’s defense.”

During her service, Wilson has been responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including organizing, training and equipping and providing for the welfare of all active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces as well as their families.

Moreover, she has been leading the way in improving the lethality and readiness of the Air Force.  What was once 660,000 Total Force in 2017 is now 685,000 Total Force today.

She oversees the Air Force’s annual budget of more than $138 billion and directs strategy and policy development, risk management, weapons acquisition, technology investments and human resource management across a global enterprise.

“We hit the lottery with Secretary Wilson,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein. “Under her leadership, we became a better U.S. Air Force and our Airmen will continue rowing hard, becoming even faster, smarter. As she takes her talent and leadership to my home state of Texas, I wish her the very best.”

Prior to assuming the secretary of the Air Force position, Wilson was president of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a member of the National Security Council staff and also served in the private sector.

“My greatest appreciation and thanks to Secretary Wilson for her premier leadership of the world’s greatest Airmen and Air Force,” said Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew P. Donovan. “We wish her the best at the University of Texas El Paso.”

Charles Pope

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

ARLINGTON, VA. — The civilian and military leaders of the Air Force, Navy and Army attempted March 8 to convince skeptical senators that they are working aggressively – and effectively – to correct poorly maintained military housing that has left some homes coated in mold, infested with rodents and with other problems affecting health and safety.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein and Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson provide testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., March 7. The committee examined privatized military housing for service members and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Wayne Clark)

“Our military families deserve good housing,” Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson told the Senate Armed Services Committee. “And when there’s a problem with a house, it should be fixed promptly and competently. Moreover, our Airmen should be comfortable that they can identify problems without any fear of retaliation.”

Wilson was joined by Secretary of the Army Mark T. Esper and Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer as well as the military chiefs of each service – Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, Marine Commandant Gen. Robert B. Neller and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M. Richardson.

Each was alternately contrite and outraged, apologizing for not attacking the problem sooner but promising swift and decisive action. The responses followed blunt assessments from a number of senators.

James Inhofe, R-Okla. and committee chairman, said reports of substandard housing are “heart wrenching.” Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who is the ranking Democrat on the committee, said the current state of housing on some bases is the result of “systemic failures on the part of contractors and Department of Defense.”

The service secretaries and chiefs each acknowledged the problem.

“In too many cases, it is clear the private housing companies failed to uphold their end of the bargain, a failure that was enabled by the Army’s insufficient oversight,” Esper said. “We are determined to investigate these problems and to hold our housing contractors and chains of command … accountable.”

To underscore their response, leaders of each service described their services’ review of base housing. Wilson told senators that the Air Force completed its review on March 1 and that she personally visited housing at MacDill, Tinker and Shaw Air Force Bases. Goldfein saw housing and met families at Keesler and Maxwell AFBs.

Each found problems and substandard maintenance that “were very consistent with the testimony that you heard from the families that came forward,” Goldfein said. “And I’ll second what the secretary said, that the most concerning to me that I found was the breakdown in trust that we’ve got to rebuild.”

A major part of the corrective effort, the officials told senators, is creation of a tenant bill of rights. An early version of the document has been released. It provides service personnel who live in military housing more authority and stronger tools to alert the chain of command to problems and force action.

Foremost is the ability of renters to withhold payment if problems are properly reported to the private companies that manage the homes but are not addressed or resolved.

“Excitement in the near term based on hearings is interesting, not compelling,” Goldfein told senators. “We are going to have to keep our boot on the throat of the underperforming contractors and our command chain and leadership to make sure we get after this for the long term. And we’re committed to do so.”

How long it will take to enact the tenant bill of rights, however, is unclear. Spencer said it could take 90 days because it requires contacting each company that manages military housing to inform “and educate” them about new expectations and consequences for not complying.

Beyond the bill of rights and stronger commander involvement, the service secretaries and chiefs said they will work to ensure that base housing authorities are sufficiently staffed and trained. Wilson said as part of her review, at bases where housing is well maintained and satisfaction ratings are high, the housing authority is strong.

“One of the bases that I went to was one that was rated as performing well and when you have a contract housing office where the contractor is performing well, we probably have enough people in that housing office,” Wilson said. “But when performance starts to slide that’s when it becomes overtaxed. So how we put the people back (to) give support to the base commanders where it’s really needed is … going to be the key decision point.”

Wilson, Goldfein and the other leaders also said that commanders must work harder to understand the state of housing on their bases and to respond aggressively and quickly. In addition, each secretary and service chief said there would be “zero tolerance” for retaliation when problems are reported.

“If people feel that if they act there will be retaliation, people will not act,” Wilson said.

When asked by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., to speak directly to active-duty service personnel who are living in substandard housing, Goldfein said the issue was a “mirror check” moment for him and other commanders.

“We have a moral obligation,” he said. “We are not going to stop until we have the system right and we can take care of all of them.”

The Air Force and other services are also looking at the terms of leases to determine if universal language might be used. They also are examining building codes and how building inspectors from local governments are used to ensure that safe and most up-to-date standards are used.

While the hearing was for the most part cordial, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., focused on the role that commanders play to ensure that rules and standards are enforced. She also said they must be more assertive in rejecting bonus payments to contractors that fail to meet high standards.

A contract can have “perfect language,” she said, but “If leaders don’t enforce the rules, at the end of the day, we’re not going to be delivering for our military personnel.”

Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., agreed. “This is ultimately a commander responsibility.”

McSally should know. A retired Air Force colonel and fighter pilot, McSally said her experience is that the record of commanders is “very patchwork.”

By the end of the 3-hour hearing, senators said they believe the actions and plans of the services are well designed and will make a difference.

But they also warned that their attention will not wane and that each of the services is expected to show real and lasting improvement.

“We will have another oversight hearing with the chairman’s blessing to see where the progress is,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said. “And I’m not talking about next year. I’m talking on fairly short intervals because if you look at this, this is not rocket science. We can fix this. And it starts by doing what every branch has said they’re going to do.”

Col. Kenyon Bell

72nd Air Base Wing commander

During the month of March we celebrate women’s history. The Air Force recognizes the importance and value of women in our ranks. According to the Air Force Personnel Center, women make up 20.3 percent of active duty Air Force personnel and 22.93 percent of our Total Force. The number has more than doubled from 11 percent in 1990, signifying a necessary shift in women joining the military and performing critical roles in support of our national defense mission.

Women have served in the Revolutionary War, World War I, Vietnam War, and in Afghanistan — before the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 granted women permanent status in armed services.

The theme for this year is “Visionary Women: Champions of Peace and Nonviolence.” We honor the women who have championed nonviolent change and helped resolve conflicts in the workplace, in our homes, in our local communities and internationally, in uniform and in civil service capacities.

Poet, activist and writer, Maya Angelou said, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.” She also stated, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation March 8, 1980 naming that week as Women’s History Week stating that both men and women helped to build the United States, and women are the unsung heroes of history with contributions that are often unnoticed by society in general. In 1987 Congress passed a public law designating the entire month of March as Women’s History Month.

Numerous activities are occurring this month in honor of Women’s History Month concluding with a luncheon on March 28 at 11 a.m. in the Chapel Fellowship Hall. I invite you to join in this month’s special observance celebrations!

Sources for this article include https://www.newsweek.com/womens-history-month-facts-about-womens-history-inspiring-women-824838; http://daysofyear.com/womens-history-month/; BBC article https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-27610770 .

Marisa Alia-Novobilski

Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — The Air Force Materiel Command is scheduled to host an online, virtual hiring fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST April 10, to fill multiple noncompetitive and direct-hire authority positions across the enterprise.

The event will provide an opportunity for hiring officials and qualified candidates to connect directly via an interactive, online platform to fill immediate, critical vacancies as well as future positions at AFMC headquarters and center locations across the U.S.

“This event is one of a number of hiring events we have planned this year as part of our enterprise hiring effort,” said Marcae Riggs, AFMC Personnel Programs Branch chief. “However, it’s our first hiring fair to be held completely online. This event will give us the chance to recruit from a widespread, geographically dispersed pool of talent, ensuring the ‘best of the best’ have the opportunity to apply and be hired.”

The virtual career fair will focus on positions that are covered by noncompetitive hiring authorities and can be filled quickly with qualified applicants with the required degrees or skill sets. Open positions include occupations such as aircraft maintenance, law enforcement and security, logistics, engineering, science, acquisition and contract management, cyber security and more.

“We have immediate as well as future needs. We are working to build a repository of talent that we can draw from as openings occur,” Riggs said.

Pre-event registration at the official event website, http://www.virtual2019.com/, is required, with a deadline of March 22. Applicants will need to upload documents that include resumes, official/unofficial transcripts and other documents, depending on the individual situation and job posting requirement.

All resumes will be reviewed by hiring officials prior to the event and invitations to attend will be extended to a limited number of qualified candidates. While not all registrants will receive an event invitation, resumes will be maintained for potential future hiring needs.

To learn more about Air Force civilian opportunities and future hiring events, visit http://www.afciviliancareers.com/. Further information on the April 10 event is available at http://www.virtual2019.com/.

Megan Prather

Staff Writer

Tinker Air Force Base will be holding a spring hiring event on March 25 as the base continues to look for qualified applicants to expand its software workforce.

Invitations were sent out to electrical engineers, computer engineers and computer scientists prior to the event with a goal of meeting qualified individuals who can be placed in jobs immediately. According to Natalie Del Rosario with Air Force Materiel Command, Tinker’s hiring target for the 2019 fiscal year is 263 scientists and engineers. About 62 percent of these hires will fill positions as Electronics Engineers or Computer Scientists. As of the beginning of March, Tinker has hired 76 S&E’s.

“The hope for these hiring events is to meet with good, qualified applicants that they can hire immediately,” Lacy Giles, human resource specialist said. “Whenever we do recruiting at colleges and their career fairs we collect resumes and put them in a database so when we’re doing these hiring events they can go through the database of resumes and look for people that are close to graduation who could potentially be a good candidate to fill their jobs.”

The hiring event provides candidates with the opportunity to go through the entire interview process in one day. If a candidate is chosen for a position they receive an on-the-spot job offer and they’re able to get their fingerprinting done and background check initiated so when that process is complete, they can get started quickly.

Organizations planning to attend this hiring event include 76th Software Maintenance Group, the B-52 group from Air Force Life Cycle Maintenance Center and the 38th Cyberspace Engineering Installation Group.

Additionally, Air Force Materiel Command will be hosting an online hiring fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 10 with a goal of meeting qualified candidates to fill immediate and future vacancies at headquarters across the U.S.  These positions include areas such as aircraft maintenance, law enforcement and security, logistics, engineering, acquisition and contract management, cybersecurity and more.

You must pre-register for the virtual hiring event at afcs.recsolu.com by March 22, and invitations will be sent to a limited amount of qualified candidates. Applicants should be prepared to upload documents such as resumes, transcripts and specific documents dependent on job type.

To learn more about civilian employment opportunities as well as future hiring events visit afciviliancareers.com.

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

Editor’s note: The Tinker Take Off pays tribute to posthumous Medal of Honor recipient, Tech. Sgt. John Chapman, to commemorate Medal of Honor Day on March 25.

WASHINGTON — On what would have been their 26th wedding anniversary, Tech. Sgt. John Chapman’s widow, Valerie Nessel, accepted his Medal of Honor from President Donald Trump during a ceremony at the White House Aug. 22.

“We are gathered together this afternoon to pay tribute to a fallen warrior, a great warrior…and to award him with our nation’s highest and most revered military honor,” Trump said.

Fighting in the early morning hours through brisk air and deep snow, Chapman sacrificed his own life to preserve the lives of his teammates during the Battle of Taku Ghar, Afghanistan, on March 4, 2002.

Master Sgt. John Chapman, an Air Force combat controller, was killed during a battle against al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan, March 4, 2002. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in August and his name was added to the Medal of Honor Wall at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Nov. 8. (U.S. Air Force photo)

“[John] would want to recognize the other men who lost their lives,” Valerie said in a previous interview. “Even though he did something he was awarded the Medal of Honor for, he would not want the other guys to be forgotten — they were part of the team together. I think he would say his Medal of Honor was not just for him, but for all of the guys who were lost.”

Chapman was originally awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions; however, following a review of the Air Force Cross and Silver Star recipients directed by then-Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Deborah James, then-Secretary of the Air Force, recommended Chapman’s Air Force Cross be upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

“John was always selfless — it didn’t just emerge at Taku Ghar — he had always been selfless and highly competent, and thank God for all those qualities,” retired Air Force Col. Ken Rodriguez, Chapman’s commander at the time of the battle, said in a previous interview. “He could have hunkered down in the bunker and waited for the (Quick Reaction Force) and (Combat Search and Rescue) team to come in, but he assessed the situation and selflessly gave his life for them.”

Chapman enlisted in the Air Force Sept. 27, 1985, as an information systems operator, but felt called to be part of Air Force special operations. In 1989, he cross-trained to become an Air Force combat controller.

According to friends and family, Chapman had a tendency to make the difficult look effortless and consistently sought new challenges. Dating back to his high school days, he made the varsity soccer squad as a freshman. In his high school yearbook, Chapman quoted these words: “Give of yourself before taking of someone else.”

Chapman looked for a new challenge, which he found in combat control. This special operations training is more than two years long and amongst the most rigorous in the U.S. military; only about one in 10 Airmen who start the program graduate. From months of intense training to multiple joint schools — including military SCUBA, Army static-line and freefall, air traffic control, and combat control schools — Chapman is remembered as someone who could overcome any adversity.

“One remembers two types of students — the sharp ones and the really dull ones — and Chapman was in the sharp category,” said Ron Childress, a former Combat Control School instructor. “During one of his first days at Combat Control School, I noticed a slight smirk on his face like [the training] was too simple for him…and it was.”

Following Combat Control School, Chapman served with the 1721st Combat Control Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, where he met Valerie in 1992. They had two daughters, who were the center of Chapman’s world even when he was away from home — which was common in special operations.

“He would come home from a long trip and immediately have on his father hat — feeding, bathing, reading and getting his girls ready for bed,” said Chief Master Sgt. Michael West, who served with Chapman through Combat Control School, a three-year tour in Okinawa, Japan, and at Pope AFB. “They were his life and he was proud of them. To the Air Force he was a great hero…what I saw was a great father.”

The Battle of Takur Ghar

In conjunction with Operation Anaconda in March 2002, small reconnaissance teams were tasked to establish observation posts in strategic locations in Afghanistan, and when able, direct U.S. airpower to destroy enemy targets. The mountain of Takur Ghar was an ideal spot for such an observation post, with excellent visibility to key locations.

For Chapman and his joint special operations teammates, the mission on the night of March 3 was to establish a reconnaissance position on Takur Ghar and report al-Qaida movement in the Sahi-Kowt area.

“This was a very high profile, no-fail job, and we picked John,” said retired Air Force Col. Ken Rodriguez, Chapman’s commander at the time. “In a very high-caliber career field, with the highest quality of men — even then — John stood out as our guy.”

During the initial insertion onto Afghanistan’s Takur Ghar mountaintop on March 4, the MH-47 Chinook helicopter carrying Chapman and the joint special operations reconnaissance team was ambushed. A rocket-propelled grenade struck the helicopter and bullets ripped through the fuselage. The blast ripped through the left side of the Chinook, throwing Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts off the ramp of the helicopter onto the enemy-infested mountaintop below.

The severely damaged aircraft was unable to return for Roberts, and performed a controlled crash landing a few miles from the mountaintop. Thus began the chain of events that led to unparalleled acts of valor by numerous joint special operations forces, the deaths of seven U.S. servicemen and now, 16 years later, the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Chapman.

Alone, against the elements and separated from his team with enemy personnel closing in, Roberts was in desperate need of support. The remaining joint special operations team members, fully aware of his precarious situation, immediately began planning a daring rescue attempt that included returning to the top of Takur Ghar where they had just taken heavy enemy fire.

As the team returned to Roberts’ last-known position, now on a second MH-47, the entrenched enemy forces immediately engaged the approaching helicopter with heavy fire.

The helicopter, although heavily damaged, was able to successfully offload the remaining special operations team members and return to base. Chapman, upon exiting the helicopter, immediately charged uphill through the snow toward enemy positions while under heavy fire from three directions.

Once on the ground, the team assessed the situation and moved quickly to the high ground. The most prominent cover and concealment on the hilltop were a large rock and tree. As they approached the tree, Chapman received fire from two enemy personnel in a fortified position. He returned fire, charged the enemy position and took out the enemy combatants within.

Almost immediately, the team encountered machine gun fire from another fortified enemy position only 12 meters away. Chapman deliberately moved into the open to engage the new enemy position. As he engaged the enemy, he was struck by a burst of gunfire and became critically injured.

Chapman regained his faculties and continued to fight despite his severe wounds. He sustained a violent engagement with multiple enemy fighters for over an hour before paying the ultimate sacrifice. Due to his remarkably heroic actions, Chapman is credited with saving the lives of his teammates.

(Staff Sgt. Ryan Conroy contributed to this story.)

Megan Prather

Staff Writer

Lt. Gen. Gene Kirkland, Air Force Sustainment Center commander, spoke to the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce on March 15 with his State of the Air Force Sustainment Center address. During this speech, he updated chamber members on the current state of Tinker Air Force Base as well as future plans and the overall effect the base has on the Oklahoma economy.

Kirkland referred to military bases economic engines for the communities they serve. Last year, Tinker awarded more than $1 billion in contracts to small Oklahoma-based businesses and another $2.7 billion to companies in Oklahoma. Tinker is also Oklahoma’s largest single-site employer, with 17,000 civilian and 9,000 military employees and an economic impact of $4.55 billion to the state.

Lt. Gen. Gene Kirkland, Air Force Sustainment Center commander, updated the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce on the state of the Air Force Sustainment Center at a meeting on March 15. Kirkland said that the key to moving forward is strengthening alliances with businesses, industry and academia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Prather)

Kirkland emphasized the importance of small businesses in the sustainment of the Air Force as well as their vitality in executing the agility and innovation called for by our National Defense Strategy. Kirkland went on to discuss a comprehensive 20-year organic depot infrastructure plan designed to ensure continued cost-effective sustainment for the warfighter.

These plans include Tinker continuing preparations for the KC-46 Tanker sustainment campus, which will consist of 14 different hangars and create 1,355 jobs under the quality job program, as well as the announcement that the base would become the sustainment home of the B-21 Bomber. The propulsion directorate is also evaluating options to re-engine the B-52 and Tinker is currently looking at a one-for-one replacement for the TF33 engine for the fleet of 76 B-52 Bombers the base houses.

Tinker’s $12.9 million air traffic control tower is also scheduled to open this summer and will provide unique training opportunities.

Kirkland addressed the ongoing challenge of improving mission capable rates on a number of weapons systems as Air Force senior leaders have announced an initiative referred to as MC-80. This initiative strives for 80 percent mission capable rates on the F-16, F-22 and F-35 fleets this fiscal year.

According to Kirkland, the AFSC is on its way to meeting that goal and the center is already taking steps to succeed when the initiative transitions to focus on other weapons systems with quick fleet modernization and acquisition reform playing a key role. Other areas of focus include robotics and automation, corrosion detection and repair, non-destructive inspection and advanced composite repair technologies.

Kirkland says that to keep the pace, Tinker needs to evolve with agility and speed, discussing hiring needs the base sees in regards to software and cybersecurity professionals. According to Kirkland, Tinker AFB could hire every electrical or software professional produced each year in the state of Oklahoma, and still not have enough to meet requirements. He emphasized the importance of advocating for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education programs that will improve the pipeline of students pursuing STEM degrees.

Senior Air Force leadership also has a priority of building a more lethal and ready force, which includes a goal of increasing the number of operational squadrons from 312 to 386 by 2030.

Kirkland says that the key to moving forward is in strengthening alliances with businesses, industry and academia and that to succeed in a new strategic environment, Tinker will continue to find ways to go faster, reduce the cost of acquisition and sustainment and continue to work toward innovation.

2nd Lt Ashlyn K. Paulson

72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

“What’s the game plan?” asked the accessories flight chief. “Well sir, I do not think you are going to like it … we are going to have to do something that has never been done before,” replied Tech Sgt. Marquis Gaines.

This was the conversation that led to the creation of a new vent system pressurization tool by the 552nd Maintenance Squadron Fuel Systems Section, the Tank Rats, for the Boeing E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System fleet in less than 12 hours’ time.

The 552nd Fuel Systems section started noticing a reoccurring theme with one of their aircraft dating back as early as 2015.

“Since 2015, a specific AWACS aircraft has had an intermittent history of fuel coming out of the right wing tip when making a hard left turn

Airmen 1st Class Elijah Brown and Steven Graves, 552nd Maintenance Squadron Fuel System Section, prepare to enter the fuel tanks for the Boeing E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System. Airmen must wear GORE-TEX textured suits and ventilators to protect their respiratory systems and skin from the fuel and toxins while working on the aircraft fuel systems. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Ashlyn K. Paulson)

during taxiing. Don’t be alarmed, fuel exiting the wing tip is normal operation, but not on the ground during taxiing operations and not this often,” said Master Sgt. Richard Newman, flight chief of Aircraft Fuel Systems Section. “We would follow our technical order troubleshooting steps and change the check valve on the vent system, put the aircraft back on the line, and in six to nine months, the same problem would start occurring again. This has happened every year since 2015, but only when taxiing; the aircraft history proves we couldn’t pinpoint where the exact problem was coming from because the check valve was our focal point. It was time we got to the bottom of this.”

While this was only reoccurring with one specific aircraft, the Tank Rats turned to the Technical Order guidance of the AWACS dating back from the introduction of the fleet in 1977 to solve this problem. Within this guidance, a 2 inch by 2 inch black and white photo illustrated a hose with an on/off valve connected to the wing tip. The only problem was the guidance did not provide any instructions on what it was or how to create this hose.

“With no direction, we reached out to our civilian engineers, members at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex and former Tank Rats,” said Newman. “Out of the dozens of individuals we engaged with, no one had seen this vent system hose or a prototype in more than 12 years.”

After working with teams and engineers, the Tank Rats created a new vent system pressurization tool in less than 12 hours with hose fittings, adapters and a gauge from local supply points around the Tinker community. The tool allowed them to pressurize the vent system with air and with this new tool, technicians were able to pinpoint two cracked welds in the fuel vent system, as well as three areas with worn out sealant. Prior to this new tool, the Tank Rats could not apply pressure to check for leaks in the vent system.

“The best part is that while a vent system pressurization tool was created for Tinker Air Force Base, we also created one for the road,” said Gaines. “With units operating out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, Kadena Air Base in Japan and in deployed locations, this will allow for one of the vent system pressurization tools to travel with the aircraft.

Although this only occurred with one specific aircraft, as the already 40-year-old AWACS fleet ages, it is expected that more aircraft will experience failed components inside the vent system and this new vent system pressurization tool will be beneficial for the rest of the fleet.

“Whether finding innovative solutions, or dusting off old ones, it’s another example of the professionalism our 552nd maintainers show every day in sustaining the AWACS fleet and supporting the mission of America’s Wing,” said Col. Bill Chudko, the 552nd Maintenance Group Commander. “Pull chocks, maintenance rocks!”

Megan Prather

Staff Writer

There is no shame in asking for help.

That was the message at the center of the speech former NFL and mixed martial arts star Herschel Walker gave to the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex and the 552nd Air Control Wing on March 25.

Herschel Walker, Heisman Trophy winner and retired NFL player, visited several areas around Tinker, including the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, the 72nd Air Base Wing, the 552nd Air Control Wing and Strategic Communications Wing ONE March 25-26. Walker encouraged attendees to reach out and seek help and let them know that if they are struggling with mental health issues, that they are not alone. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kelly White)

Throughout the conversation, Walker discussed the challenges he’s overcome throughout his life from a childhood stutter and bullies to training hard to be taken off the bench at the University of Georgia, and eventually winning the Heisman Trophy in 1982.

“Man can’t step on what God has in store for you,” Walker said regaling the crowd with stories of playing in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants including a trading dispute, comical lists of demands for that trade and hanging out with presidents.

However, not all topics covered were as lighthearted. Walker also discussed his experiences in getting help with dissociative identity disorder, also known as multiple personality disorder, a mental disorder that presented him with violent thoughts and anger issues.

At one point, Walker became so angered by the late delivery of a package he decided to take his gun with him when finally going to meet the person. Although he was able to calm himself down before he approached the delivery person, the situation made him realize that he needed to get help.

“Things we can’t handle sometimes, we push it off to someone else,” Walker said. “What was happening to me is I used athletics as my coping mechanism because I didn’t want to deal with all the pain I had right there. We may use alcohol or drugs or anger as a coping mechanism because we don’t want to deal with something else.”

Walker sought help for his mental illness, eventually finding himself with a psychologist who diagnosed him with the disorder and entering a behavioral health facility where they were able to provide him with the help he needed.

“We should never put things off. If you’re going through something, or a family member is going through something or a friend is going through something, it’s time to be accountable,” Walker said. “There’s no shame to say you have a problem. I’m living proof that if you get knocked down, you can get back up and be okay.”

Walker is the national spokesperson for the Patriot Support Program and visits military installations telling his story to encourage service men and women to get help if they need.

If you or someone you know need someone to talk to, contact the Military Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 and select option 1, or text 838255.

For more resources, see the numbers below in the Commander’s Action Line or visit www.dspo.mil/.

Staff Reports

Preston Kemp, 38th Engineering Squadron cyber engineer, presents the results of an Air Force engineering prototype study to attendees during a Federal Aviation Working Group event, hosted by Apple, Inc., in Austin, Texas, March 13. The event served as a technical interchange between Department of Defense service members and contractors, commercial vendors, and Apple federal team members, all focused on better equipping pilots and aircraft maintainers to perform their work using alternative computing platforms for greater functionality and capability. (Courtesy photo)

Air Forces Cyber Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-Lackland, Texas — Preston Kemp, 38th Engineering Squadron cyber engineer, presented the results of an Air Force engineering prototype study to attendees during a Federal Aviation Working Group event, hosted by Apple, Inc., in Austin, Texas, March 13.

The event served as a technical interchange between Department of Defense service members and contractors, commercial vendors, and Apple federal team members, all focused on better equipping pilots and aircraft maintainers to perform their work using alternative computing platforms for greater functionality and capability.

Although commercial mobile technologies have been used in this area for nearly a decade, the 38th ES identified a gap in how these devices are being managed and supported. The result of months of prototyping and partnering with industry and other federal agencies is a Macintosh operating system-powered device that interfaces with the existing Air Force Network.

The effort directly supports pilots and maintainers to better enable them to innovate how they accomplish their missions every day.

Hill Air Force Base
Air Force Assistance Fund Committee

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — The annual Air Force Assistance Fund, or AFAF, campaign has begun and will run through April 26.
“The Air Force Assistance Fund campaign is a way to give back to the Air Force community by supporting organizations that benefit both current Airmen and their families, as well as the families of Airmen who came before us,” said Capt. Pamela Lampert, one of this year’s Hill Air Force Base AFAF project officers.
The AFAF is affiliated with four different charitable organizations:
• The Air Force Aid Society supports Airmen and their families with emergency monetary relief in times of need and awards scholastic grants for Airmen furthering their education.
• The Lemay Foundation assists widows of officer and enlisted Air Force retirees via financial aid to enable them to retain a dignified standard of living.
• The Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation is a San Antonio-based charity that provides care for retired officers and their spouses.
• The Air Force Enlisted Village is based in Florida near Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field and provides care and living space for surviving spouses of retired enlisted Air Force members.
The target audience for donations is Air Force military personnel, including Air National Guardsmen and Air Force reservists and Air Force retirees. Unsolicited donations may also be accepted from others, including (non-retiree) civilian employees, sister service military personnel and retirees.
Key workers in each unit will accept donations during the campaign via payroll deductions, or through cash, check or money order. For more information about the Air Force Assistance Fund campaign at Tinker Air Force Base, contact AFAF Campaign Project Officer Senior Master Sgt. Clarissa Merced, 72nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron, at 582-6003, or email clarissa.m.merced.mil@mail.mil.

Amy Schiess
Air Force Sustainment Center Public Affairs
Military commanders from across the state have a better understanding of shared challenges and opportunities after meeting for the Oklahoma Commanders Summit at Tinker Air Force Base March 26.
Leaders from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Air National Guard, along with civilian representatives from agencies that work closely with the military, gathered for the summit to discuss common issues affecting each service in the state of Oklahoma.

Opening the March 26 Oklahoma Commanders Summit is Lt. Gen. Gene Kirkland, commander of the Air Force Sustainment Center. This was the third annual summit, which brings together leaders from around the state to ensure a coordinated military voice on common issues. This year, representatives from the DOD–State Liaison Office, the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, the Department of Commerce, and the regional civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army also attended. (U.S. Air Force photo/Amy Schiess)

“Our goal is to establish a coordinated military voice on the issues that matter the most to us,” said Lt. Gen. Gene Kirkland, commander of Air Force Sustainment Center. “We also have our state agency friends here with us today to help educate us on shared opportunities.”
Each attendee presented a short briefing about their area of responsibility and background on assets and topics of interest to their station or mission. Civilian agency representatives explained their roles and how they relate to the military, the state legislature, and the aerospace industry.
“It’s a great opportunity to get all these people in the room to discuss ‘What’s the order of the day for the military in the state of Oklahoma?’” said Grayson Ardies, deputy director for the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission.
One topic is the current need for skilled labor such as aircraft maintainers, along with a requirement for engineers. Many of the civilian maintainers employed at Altus Air Force Base eventually move to Tinker because of the amenities Oklahoma City can offer, according to Col. Eric Carney, commander of 97th Air Mobility Wing there. Coupled with that concern is the civilian maintainer work force nearing retirement age.
“These professionals are foundational to our mission capabilities,” said Kirkland. “It is a state-wide challenge. We are not strategically producing enough skilled individuals to fill these jobs.”
The aerospace industry is currently the second largest in the state, with a $44 billion economic impact, behind the oil and gas industry, which has a $65 billion impact, said Vince Howie, Aerospace and Defense director, Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Military aviation has a $19.3 billion impact statewide, the largest within the aviation sector.
“We’re hopeful that the economy can continue to diversify with aviation aerospace leading the charge,” said Ardies. His hope is that “when oil and gas is going in a downturn, those people cannot have to go to other states. They can transition right into the aerospace sector and do something similar with their skill set in aviation and aerospace , whether its machine shops, tooling, maintenance, engineering, you name it.”
Howie mentioned that in the case of engineers, modern-day students may want to be video game designers and don’t realize that “in aerospace, we have some of the neatest ‘toys’ there are. You can write software for the B-2.”
“We talked a lot about Direct Hire Authority and partnering with the local community, different high schools and vocational centers,” said Col. Joseph Blanding, commander of the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. “That was beneficial. It was a great opportunity to collaborate with my fellow commanders.”
The legislative liaison for AFSC, Mindy Banz, provided an overview of state legislation that could impact all federal installations including the implementation of the Real ID Act in Oklahoma, which will affect access to federal property. Another item of legislation with military impacts is occupational licensing reciprocity, which addresses the way licenses to practice certain occupations such as cosmetology is handled between states. Currently, many states do not honor each other’s licensing, which results in high fees and wait time for a military spouse to practice their occupation after a PCS move.
Commanders also discussed state laws relating to marijuana use, the challenging impacts of wind farms near flight training bases, and infrastructure challenges.
“This has been extremely valuable,” said Col. Corey Simmons, commander of 71st Flying Training Wing, Vance AFB. “We have some cross-service challenges and we can leverage ideas from each other. Our jobs are very different, but many of our challenges are the same.”
Joe Gallagher, deputy to the commanding general of Fires Center of Excellence at Fort Sill, agreed. “I haven’t seen anything similar to this in my 30-plus years of service,” he said. “Looking forward to next year.”

Tech. Sgt. Richard N. Melton

72nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron

With the Oklahoma summer comes high temperatures and as a result, Tinker personnel may be experiencing a little more stress as a form of “heat stress.”

With prevention, the harmful effects of heat can be avoided.

The environmental factors that may contribute to heat related illness and injuries, include ambient temperature, relative humidity, solar load and wind speed. While environmental factors cannot always be easily controlled, the effects of heat on the human body can be minimized with proper precautions. Those precautions include proper hydration with water, light, loose-fitting clothing to promote evaporative cooling, taking breaks in shaded areas and acclimation to working in a hot environment.

There are many factors to consider when battling heat stress: proper hydration, physical fitness, being aware of the current HeatCon and, finally, using the Wingman concept when it gets warm. The Air Force uses a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature instrument to measure environmental heat factors. The WBGT integrates the four environmental factors of ambient temperature, solar load, relative humidity, and wind speed. The WBGT should not be confused with the “heat index” reported by the news media and other sources since this index does not integrate all four environmental factors.

The WBGT values are used in conjunction with work conditions to determine a “heat-condition” better known as “HeatCon.” Tinker’s HeatCons are calculated by the 72nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron’s Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight.

The HeatCon ranges from 0 (no condition) to 5 (most severe condition). When the forecasted high temperature of 85 degrees is expected, monitoring is conducted four times daily.

If Tinker reaches HeatCon 3 (Yellow Flag), hourly monitoring will be conducted and reported. Heat stress recommendations are represented by both numbers and flag colors.

The Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight posts WBGT value via the Tinker Home Page under the “HeatCon” tab. Accordingly, water intake and rest cycles are recommended and can be used as a tool for commanders, directors and supervisors to exercise risk management for their employees.

Additionally, the HeatCon is posted on the plasma screens located throughout Tinker’s industrial complex. For those employees who don’t have access to a computer/plasma screen, the 76th Maintenance Operations Center, 552nd Air Control Wing MOC, Tinker Command Post, 507th Air Refueling Wing Command Post, and the Navy TF-124 OCC are notified of HeatCons in order to allow for dissemination.

Megan Prather

Staff writer

The 38th Cyberspace Engineering Installation group held their change of command ceremony recently bidding farewell to outgoing Commander Col. Todd Schug and welcoming their new Commander Col. James Trachier.

Commander of the 688th Cyberspace Wing Col. Eric DeLange from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland oversaw the change of command and addressed their families during his remarks.

Col. James Trachier assumed command of the 38th Cyberspace Engineering Installation Group at the Hill Theater May 30. Col. Eric DeLange, commander of the 688th Cyberspace Wing at Joint Air Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, was the presiding officer over the formal ceremony in which the civilians of the 38th CEIG bid farewell to outgoing commander Col. Todd Schug. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kelly White)

“Before these fine leaders came into the Air Force they were with you all, and so you are the bedrock that instilled the value and the character they brought into our Air Force, that continued to get shaped thereafter so I just want to say thank you,” DeLange said. “We do stand on common ground when it comes to the Air Force and this mighty 38th Cyberspace Engineering Group. It’s indeed an honor to stand on common ground as Col. Todd Shug, who prepares to pass the mantle of leadership on to Col. Trachier.”

The unit flag was passed onto Trachier, who comes to Tinker from the position of military deputy, Services Directorate, Defense Information Systems Agency at Fort Meade. Trachier is a career communications/cyberspace operations officer and graduated squadron commander who has served at the agency, Joint Task Force and Combatant Headquarters level. He has also worked with the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“I’m incredibly honored to stand before you today. Col. DeLange, thank you for the honor and confidence and trust you show in extending the opportunity to command this amazing group. I promise to reward that trust on a daily basis. To the men and women of the 38th CEIG, thank you for your selfless devotion to our important mission. Each of you has answered the call to serve this great nation of ours in the world’s greatest Air Force,” Trachier said. “The demands and the challenges that we have ahead of us are daunting, but I know that you will rise to the task as you stand ready to move onward with our core values in innovation and unflinching courage, I’m excited and humbled to be your new commander. God bless, Godspeed, let’s get to work.”

Schug will be leaving the 38th CEIG as commander after two years, and will also be retiring from the Air Force after 31 years of service.

“You and the 38th have thrived during your two years in command,” DeLange said.

Some of Schug’s accomplishments during his tenure include coordinating with guard forces to align a necessary workforce to support the design and network installation that helped complete the $1.3 billion U.S. Strategic Command Headquarters in Nebraska, saving approximately $300 million in the process. He and his team of military and civilian employees also supported United States Central Command and Special Forces with down range networking and C2 capabilities that supported thousands of missions resulting in thousands of enemy forces either killed or captured.The United Professionals under his watch were crucial to restoring command and control, and humanitarian coordination capabilities to Puerto Rico and the Florida Panhandle after hurricanes Michael and Maria.

“38th is family,” Schug said. “All the great things that happened while I sat here, that’s all about what the squadron commanders, leaders and Airmen have done. There’s no question that this crew has a global impact across the United States Air Force. It’s tough to walk away from this level of awesomeness.”