Joint Base San Antonio > News

Airman transforms hardships into motivation
March 16, 2018 — As a young and homeless man, Brian experienced hardships no teen should ever endure, but through hard work and determination, the future Airman discovered he was capable of doing much more than he thought he could... MORE

Formerly Homeless, Airman transform hardship in Motivation

25th AF civilian recognized as exceptional, visionary leader
November 25, 2017 — The recipient of the 2018 Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught Visionary Leadership Award for Air Combat Command was awarded to Pierre Terry, 25th Air Force director of staff at Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection Directorate (A4). ... MORE

Pierre Terry, director of staff, 25th Air Force’s Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection Directorate (A4), is the civilian recipient of the 2018 Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught Visionary Leadership Award for Air Combat Command. Terry holds the 25th Air Force INSPIRE program emblem she designed.

Outstanding ISR Airmen nominated for top leadership award
October 19, 2017 — Four outstanding 25th Air Force Airmen have made the cut to be considered for the 2017 Lance P. Sijan Award. ... MORE

The Sijan award, first presented in 1981, was named in honor of the first Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Each year it is given to a senior and junior officer, and a senior and junior enlisted member who demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities though out the year.

Surgeons General summit discusses ISR warrior care
October 11, 2017 — Medical personnel and their support affiliates from around 25th Air Force gathered together September 2017 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland for a three day summit to discuss caring for and optimizing the mission performance of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance warriors... MORE

Col. Paul Young, Surgeon General, 25th Air Force, speaks to attendees at the Numbered Air Force's annual Surgeon General's Summit at Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland.

Leader, team recognized for exceptional insider threat capabilities
October 2, 2017 — The 25th Air Force’s Insider Threat Hub, led by Jason Barron, was recognized by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association this past September for their dedication to developing top-notch Air Force intelligence community insider threat capabilities... MORE

The 25th Air Force’s Insider Threat Hub, led by Jason Barron, was recognized last week for their dedication to developing top-notch Air Force intelligence community insider threat capabilities by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.

ISR command chief’s goal: to help all Airmen do their best
September 7, 2017 — Chief Master Sgt. Stanley Cadell’s goal at the 25th Air Force is to help all Airmen do their best, without hindrances. “I see my job as to help remove obstacles so people can do their job."... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Stanley Cadell, 25th Air Force command chief, observes instruments of a U-2 Dragon Lady training aircraft.

National security and ISR discussed during congressional visit
August 11, 2017 — Congressman Will Hurd, 23rd District of Texas, visited with Maj. Gen. Mary O’Brien, 25th Air Force commander, and other leaders at the Numbered Air Force’s headquarters at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Aug. 4, 2017... MORE

Congressman Will Hurd, 23rd District of Texas, visits with Maj. Gen. Mary O’Brien, commander, 25th Air Force.

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)

Graffiti Restored on Berlin Wall Section
June 21, 2017 — In recent days, there have been a rash of reports to the 25th Air Force Facilities office about vandalism on a wall located near the entrance to Building 2000. Fortunately, the ‘tagging’ being reported is a case of mistaken identity, a bit of historical restoration, and not a case of tagging... MORE

BJ Jones, 25th Air Force History office, recently spent several hours, in the dark of night, restoring a piece of history, in the form of graffiti, on the Berlin Wall exhibit in 25th Air Force’s Belvedere Park courtyard.

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.

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.

Analyst turned Chaplain committed to providing spiritual resiliency
February 15, 2017 — When the search for a new chaplain began at the 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, who could have imagined an ISR analyst would be selected to fill those empty shoes. Chaplain (Maj.) W. James ‘Jim’ Bridgham said he can see that his ISR career prepared him for this assignment. ... MORE

Chaplain (Maj.) W. James ‘Jim’ Bridgham speaks to an Airman at the 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sgt. Darnell Cannady)

Presidential honor bestowed on Air Force officer
February 10, 2017 — When the President of the United States travels, stateside or abroad, there is an advance team who arrives weeks ahead to handle airport logistics. These team members, or agents, volunteer for the job and are the ‘best of the best’ at what they do. That is why Maj. Francisco "Cisco" Leach, deputy chief of safety, 25th Air Force, felt honored when he was recently selected from 96 agents as the 2016 Presidential Advance Agent of the Year... MORE

Gen. John W. Raymond, commander, Air Force Space Command, presents Maj. Francisco Leach an Air Force One model aircraft during the 2016 Advance Agent of the Year ceremony.

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)

Red Flag evolves as ISR, cyber presence increases
January 31, 2017 — The silent warfighters of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Cyber communities are honing their operational skills and testing new capabilities during Red Flag 17-1 at the Nevada Test and Training Range north of Las Vegas, yesterday through Feb. 10. Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air, space and cyber forces of the United States and its allies. ... MORE