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Creating an Innovation ecosystem: Beale brings virtual reality to life
June 24, 2017 — The new VR headset and remote, provided to the squadron by 25th Air Force Cryptologic Office, Cryptologic Force Management, is only the beginning of a new initiative at the 548th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group: creating an innovation ecosystem. This culture aims to foster new opportunities and introduce technologies, like VR, to the intelligence world - with a long-term objective of being introduced Air Force-wide, giving Airmen new capabilities in training, operations and building resiliency... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Edward Slacum (left), 548th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group superintendent, utilizes a virtual reality headset to explore a C-130 Hercules at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., May 24, 2017. One of the main uses for the VR technology is to provide a hands-on, realistic training environment for Airmen working in intelligence to properly identify aircrafts from various countries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lauren Parsons/Released)

Command surgeon recognized for decades of exemplary service
June 9, 2017 — When it comes to aviation medicine, Col. Paul A. Young, command surgeon, 25th Air Force, is one of the best, which is why he was selected by the Society of United States Air Force Flight Surgeons as the recipient of this year’s George E. Schafer Award... MORE

Col. Paul Young, command surgeon, 25th Air Force, has been awarded the George E. Schafer Award by the Society of U.S. Air Force Flight Surgeons Board of Governors for 2017.

New 25th Air Force commander takes reins of vast ISR enterprise
May 31, 2017 — Maj. Gen. Mary F. O’Brien took command of 25th Air Force today at Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland. Maj. Gen. Bradford "B.J." Shwedo relinquished command during the ceremony, presided over by Gen. Mike Holmes, Commander of Air Combat Command. ... MORE

Maj. Gen. Mary F. O’Brien takes command of 25th Air Force from Gen. Mike Holmes, Commander of Air Combat Command, May 31, at Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland.

Direct Support Operator Recognized for Exceptional Contributions to Mackay Trophy Aircrew
May 17, 2017 — Every year, an aircrew is selected for the Clarence Mackay Trophy, which is presented to an aircrew for accomplishing the most meritorious flight of the year. This year, an AC-130U aircrew from Air Force Special Operations Command, which included one of 25th Air Force’s outstanding Airmen, was recognized with the honor... MORE

Every year, an aircrew is selected for the Clarence Mackay Trophy, which is presented to an aircrew for accomplishing the most meritorious flight of the year. The trophy is permanently displayed at the National Air and Space Museum. (Courtesy Photo)

Scientists converge on San Antonio for week of collaboration
April 27, 2017 — Every spring, scientists from across the country pop up on a different Air Force base, looking for a specific shade of blue. This year, the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board found their ‘Air Force blue’ while meeting April 10-13 at 25th Air Force Headquarters... MORE

The Air Force Scientific Advisory Board found their ‘Air Force blue’ while meeting April 10-13 at 25th Air Force Headquarters. The group of 50 board members, and about 50 associated personnel, held mostly classified discussions on the wide variety of impacts science can have on global Air Force and Department of Defense missions.

Airman Resilience Teams keep Silent Warriors ready to fight, ready for life
April 14, 2017 — Whether active-duty Air Force, civilian or contractor, life happens, and you can’t always be prepared for it. An important part of making daily Air Force missions happen is ensuring Airmen are ready for what life hands them. ... MORE

Chaplain (Maj.) Jim Bridgham, wing chaplain, 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, Joint Base Langley- Eustis, discusses resilience during a podcast.

Intelligence communications systems migrate worldwide
April 4, 2017 — While protecting the nation and seeking out the enemy, U.S. military forces must exchange sensitive information safely and securely. The Air Force Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System allows multi-media communications between authorized individuals by secure means, and in a timely manner. ... MORE

To better utilize the Air Force's top secret communications system, there is a migration taking place that will consolidate all legacy Air Force and Air National Guard JWICS, synchronizing JWICS Air Force wide. Melanie Weems, program manager, AF JWICS Program Management Office, works with multiple contract personnel, like Brian Boblett, migration specialist, and Russ Williamson, migration technician lead, to complete the migration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lori A. Bultman)

Award recognizes analysts’ extraordinary tactical impact
March 30, 2017 — The 25th Air Force Tactics Analysis Reporting Program recently recognized the Stu Engbretson Tactics Analysts of the Year. This program recognizes analysts’ significant accomplishments completed outside the scope of their traditional Air Force Specialty Code and how that work impacts Combat Air Forces and Mobility Air Forces, said Kevin Inman, Tactics and Adversary Studies Element Manager, 25th Air Force. ... MORE

The Stu Engbretson Tactics Analysts of the Year award recognizes analysts’ significant accomplishments completed outside the scope of their traditional Air Force Specialty Code and how that work impacts Combat Air Forces.

Relocation brings ISR cryptologic operator training, aircraft together again
March 9, 2017 — The 306th Intelligence Squadron made a big move Mar. 6 from sunny California to the Sooner State. The move, to Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma City, aligns with Air Force Special Operations’ effort to collocate the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance active-duty training mission with Air National Guard operational aircraft, said Col. Michael Stevenson, commander 363rd ISR Wing. “This is yet another example of the strong partnership AFSOC [Air Force Special Operations Command] has with ACC [Air Combat Command] and the 361 ISRG [Group],” said Col. Alexander Merz, director, AFSOC ISR. ... MORE

Col. Matthew Atkins, 361st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group Commander, Hurlburt Field, Florida, and Lt. Col. Stephen McFadden, 306th Intelligence Squadron commander, participate in an assumption of command ceremony hosted by the 137th Special Operations Wing, March 6, 2017, at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma City. Lt. Col. Stephen McFadden took command of the 306th Intelligence Squadron, formerly located at Beale Air Force Base, California, upon its activation at WRANGB. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kasey Phipps)

480th ISRW hosts Innovation Summit
March 2, 2017 — The 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing hosted the AF Distributed Common Ground System Innovation Summit Feb. 8-9 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. ... MORE

The 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, headquartered at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the Air Force leader in globally-networked ISR operations.

NSA, cyber command leader visits Joint Base San Antonio
February 25, 2017 — Admiral Michael S. Rogers, commander, U.S. Cyber Command; director, National Security Agency; and chief, Central Security Service, held a town hall Feb. 17 at Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland to discuss the future of 24th and 25th Air Force and his push for integration... MORE

Admiral Michael S. Rogers, commander, U.S. Cyber Command; director, National Security Agency; and chief, Central Security Service, met with Airmen Feb. 17 at Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Lori A. Bultman)

ISR, Cyber coordinate capabilities for maximum effect at Red Flag
February 4, 2017 — Created in 1975, Red Flag was established by Gen. Robert J. Dixon, then commander of Tactical Air Command, to more realistically train forces for combat. This year’s first Red Flag, 17-1, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, has today’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance warriors thinking about the many kinetic, or traditional weapon, and non-kinetic, information warfare, effects they can produce in battle scenarios. ... MORE

Maintainers from the 419th and 388th Fighter Wings conduct conducts preflight checks on an F-35A Lightning II from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, during Red Flag 17-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 24, 2017. Airmen from the active duty 388th FW and Air Force Reserve 419th FW fly and maintain the Lightning II in a total force partnership, capitalizing on the strength of both components. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Natasha Stannard)

Catfishing: Don’t get lured in
January 19, 2017 — Dating in today’s technologically savvy world seems to have become less personal. In many cases, finding someone to spend time with might be based on information obtained through dating websites, phone calls, texts, chats and instant messages. The big question amidst the barrage of electronic information - Is the person on the other end, someone you have never met, worthy of your time? Is the potential date being sincere and honest, or is disaster just one click away? ... MORE

A catfish is a person who pretends to be someone they're not, using social media to create a false identity with the intent of scamming someone, or worse.

25th Air Force: A Year in Review
January 9, 2017 — Twenty-sixteen was a year of planning for the future at 25th Air Force. As we move into 2017, we take a look at the ups and downs of the year, assess where we have been and look forward to continuing the fight in 2017, ‘faster, nastier and better,’ under the command of Maj. Gen. B.J. Shwedo. ... MORE

NASA astronauts underwent full-pressure suit training at the 9th Physiological Support Squadron, Beale Air Force Base, July 7. The astronauts conducted training in a hypobaric chamber at simulated altitudes of more than 70,000 ft. Throughout the SFRT training, astronauts pilot T-38 Talon’s. But, pilots are also required to operate NASA’s WB-57, an aircraft designed to fly at altitudes greater than 60,000 ft.

Training ISR warriors faster, smarter through mobile apps
November 17, 2016 — Of the 12,000 intelligence professionals assigned to 25th Air Force, 70 percent have less than five years of military service. Most of those Airmen are millennials; multi-taskers who thrive on high-tech, mobile and innovative training methods. The educators of the 25th Air Force, Air Force Cryptologic Office (AFCO), in partnership with Air Education and Training Command, have discovered these newest intelligence warfighters require 24-hour-a-day access to fast-paced, highly-agile training solutions... MORE

In response to frequent deployments, strains on the resources of both time and personnel, and the availability of sophisticated technological capabilities, the Air Force is increasingly looking to mobile learning. (U.S. Air Force Photo/William B. Belcher)