Page 3 - Nellis Creech NTTR Bullseye, Feb. 3 2017

BULLSEYE News February 3, 2017 3 www.aerotechnews.com/nellisafb Facebook.com/NellisBullseye
57th MXS redesignated as 57th MUNS
By staff sgt. siuta B. Ika
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — A little more than seven years after it was designated as the 57th Maintenance Squadron, the squadron was inactivated.
On Jan. 27, all of its former Airmen stood up the newly activated 57th Muni- tions Squadron during a redesignation ceremony, here.
Col. Shane Henderson, 57th Mainte- nance Group commander and the cer- emony’s presiding official, spoke about how the redesignation came to be and how it better aligns the squadron with its primary mission.
In 2008, Henderson said the 57th Component Maintenance Squadron and 57th Maintenance Operations Squadron were inactivated. Their functions were to be performed strictly by contract personnel, and the 57th Equipment Maintenance Squadron was redesignated as the 57th MXS — which would house munitions, the Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory, weapons stan- dardization, quality assurance and group staff functions.
“The purpose of the closures were to provide Airmen back into combat-coded units due to budget cuts,” Henderson said. “So the 57th MXS hit the ground running and didn’t look back.”
Over the past year alone, Henderson
U.S. Air Force photo
Col. Shane Henderson, 57th Maintenance Group commander, and Maj. Matthew Zakri, 57th Munitions Squadron commander, pose with the 57th MUNS guidon during a redesignation ceremony at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 27. Zakri relinquished command of the 57th Maintenance Squadron, Henderson officiated its inactivation, and then Zakri assumed command of the 57th MUNS — which was formerly known as the 57th Munitions Maintenance Squadron.
percent of total munitions expended,” Henderson said. “Our maintenance professionals in PMEL performed over 72,000 maintenance actions and over 1,800 inspections with a 93 percent pass rate — supporting those same Nellis missions that I outlined for Ammo — as well as being the regional hub for test and calibration efforts.”
Following Henderson’s remarks, Maj. Matthew Zakri stepped to center stage, relinquished command of the 57th MXS and assumed command of the 57th MUNS, which was formerly known as the 57th Munitions Maintenance Squadron.
After the 57th MXS guidon was furled and encased and the 57th MUNS guidon took its place among the squadron’s formation of Airmen, Zakri spoke to the crowd — which included Ammo veterans who served in the 57th Muni- tions Maintenance Squadron — and the Airmen of the newly reactivated muni- tions squadron.
“The squadron activation has been several years in the making and it is ab- solutely amazing to see it finally coming together,” Zakri said. “Beginning today, our Airmen promise to uphold the leg- acy of the 57th Munitions Maintenance Squadron by producing world-class fire power and system calibration. Fellow Mustangs, together we will continue to keep the peace by preparing for war.”
said Ammo has delivered approximately 3.2 million munitions to the flight line supporting more than 16 U.S. Air Force Weapons School classes, hundreds of operational tests and “Red” air missions, and over 75 flag exercises.
“While doing this, Ammo received 12,500 inspections with a 92 percent pass rate. Additionally, the munitions flight is the largest and most dynamic in Air Combat Command producing 34 percent of ACC’s total expenditure value and 19
AFLCMC to welcome new command chief
57th WG/99th ABW command chiefs take flight with Thunderbirds
U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristin S. High
U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Couillard
Chief Master Sgt. Shawn Drinkard, 57th Wing command chief, poses for a photo with Maj. Kevin Walsh, U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron operations officer on the flight line at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan 24. All three branches of the U.S. Armed Forces conduct orientation flights in certain aircraft to reward and motivate individuals, ensure a better understanding of a particular weapon system, or when the flight is determined to be in the best interest of the military.
LEFT: Maj. Kevin Walsh, left, U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron operations officer, poses with Chief Master Sgt. Michelle Thorsteinson-Richards, 99th Air Base Wing command chief, and her family after her incentive flight on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 23. Thorsteinson-Richards is heading to Wright- Patterson Air Force Base as the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center command chief. The AFLCMC is the single center responsible for total life cycle management of Air Force weapon systems.
By Brian Bracken
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — Chief Master Sgt. Michelle R. Thor- steinson-Richards has been selected as the new Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s command chief.
Thorsteinson-Richards, who is currently the command chief of the 99th Air Base Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, will replace Chief Master Sgt. Doreen Losacco, who will be retiring after more than 27 years of service to the Air Force.
U.S. Air Force photo
Chief Master Sgt. Michelle R. Thorsteinson-Richards, has been selected as the new Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s command chief.
Thorsteinson-Richards entered the Air Force in May 1989 and throughout her career has served in a broad spectrum of tactical, operational and strategic positions with total force and joint service partnership experience. She has a bach- elor of science in business administration/human resource management. She is also a graduate of the Air Force Senior Non-commissioned Officer Academy and Chief ’s Leadership Course.
Thorsteinson-Richards will report to AFLCMC in February.