Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, Dec. 1 2017

Honorary
commanders
get glimpse of
electronic warfare
by Steven Zapka
Edwards AFB, Calif.
A group of community leaders and their guests visited Edwards Air Force Base in California recently to get a feel for the mission of the 412th Elec- tronic Warfare Group Nov. 17, 2017.
The Honorary Commanders Pro- gram pairs community leaders with Air Force commanders at Edwards AFB, which fosters a better working relationship between the base and its neighboring communities. Honorary commanders hold the title for two years.
The 20 honorary commanders and their guests were hosted by Col. Le- land Davis, commander of the 412th EWG and were joined by a cadre of Edwards’ unit commanders.
The group began the day in the Integrated Facility for Avionics Systems Testing, learning the value of electronic warfare testing to the warfighter. They were divided up into four “flights” and given some aircraft simulator cockpit time. They then visited the Benefield Anechoic Facility and were briefed on the func- tion and capabilities of the facility, which provides an interference-free environment for testing electronic warfare systems.
After touring the BAF facility, the honorary commanders and their respective Edwards’ commanders rejoined in one large group for the mission debrief. The debrief includ- ed four hypothetical ingress mis- sions, demonstrating the importance of electronic warfare while high- lighting the capabilities of the fifth
generation F-22 Raptor.
“The big takeaway, we saved you a
bunch of physics lessons on the beeps and squeaks of electronic warfare,” said Davis as he addressed his guests. “We are here to protect those flying the mission and enable them to get back home safely.”
Next, they visited the F-22 Rap- tor Combined Test Force, where they received a planeside briefing by Lt. Col. Lee Bryant, commander of the 411th Flight Test Squadron, and Christopher Liebmann, F-22 Flight Systems Integration Lead Engineer, who talked about the importance of electronic warfare and stealth capabil- ity in modern warfare.
Gregg Garrett, the Tehachapi city manager and 418th Flight Test Squad- ron’s honorary commander, took part in the day’s events.
“It’s always a pleasure to experi- ence the success stories of the U.S. Air Force,” he said. “The high perfor- mance aircraft like the F-22 are tested by the most incredible personnel, they never cease to amaze me. I feel privi- leged to participate in the process, to share Edwards’ contribution to our regional economy, and our nation’s security.”
The honorary commanders are encouraged to invite their Edwards’ commanders to experience their workplace in the surrounding commu- nities as well. The visit to the EWG concludes the first year of the HCCs two-year assignment.
The next event will be a briefing and tour of the 412 Mission Support Group in early February 2018.
Air Force photograph by Don Allen
Aaron Fong, 412th Electronic Warfare Group, briefs Michelle West on her “mission” in the flight simulator during an Honorary Commanders’ event at the Integrated Facility for Flight Avionics Systems Testing.
A group of honorary commanders, their guests, and commanders from Edwards units check out the aircraft hoist in the Benefield Anechoic Facility during an honorary commanders event here. The hoist is used to suspend aircraft in the building for electronic warfare systems testing.
Air Force photograph by Don Allen
Air Force photograph by Don Allen
Col. Leland Davis, 412th Electronic Warfare Group commander, briefs the four flights of honorary commanders on their flight simulator missions during a visit to the Integrated Facility for Avionics Systems Testing facility.
Air Force photograph by Kyle Larsen
December 1, 2017
A group of honorary commanders and their guests join a cadre of unit commanders from Edwards for a tour and briefing of the Benefield Anechoic Facility. The group learned about the mission of the 412th Electronic Warfare Group by visiting the BAF, the Integrated Facility for Avionics Systems Testing, and the F-22 Raptor compound.
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