Page 8 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt January 2026

January 9, 2026 2025 Year in review Thunderbolt
November
2025 Prime BEEF Challenge with 56th CES
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Belinda Guachun-Chichay
U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron, work together to pull a Humvee in a timed event during the Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force readiness challenge, Nov. 20, 2025, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. This test pushed Airmen to their physical limits while demanding synchronized teamwork
to achieve a common goal. This challenge reiterated the enhancement of brilliance at the basics and a championship team mentality, emphasizing the importance
of discipline and collective effort in overcoming obstacles to achieve mission success.
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At Luke, generals fly, fight, fix and win
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Belinda Guachun-Chichay
On Nov. 26, two general officers flew in F-35A Lightning IIs at Luke Air Force Base, reinforcing a simple truth about Air Force leadership: even at the highest levels, credibility starts in the cockpit. U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. David Berkland, 56th Fighter Wing commander, and Brig. Gen. David Epperson, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander from Nellis AFB, Nevada, flew a training sortie together, Epperson’s first ride in the F-35. This fifth- generation fighter jet delivers unmatched multirole capabilities.
Luke Spark Cell expands drone programs
U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Tekorey Watkins
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sean Deuerlein, 56th Fighter Wing Fighter Country Innovation section chief, and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Alaniz, talk about a small unmanned aircraft system, Nov. 21, 2025, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Luke AFB is accelerating the future of warfare through a growing suite of sUAS programs developed by the 56th FW Spark Cell. The team of innovators is reshaping how Airmen train,
think, and operate in different environments.