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  • Volunteers at the Sooner Stand Down help homeless veterans find clothing and shoes to fill their backpacks. Photo courtesy of 1Lt Kinder Blacke.

    Tinker Airmen help homeless veterans at Operation Stand Down

    Tinker Airmen volunteered in impressive numbers October 23rd and 24th to help provide free services to homeless and disadvantaged veterans at the 9th annual "Sooner Stand Down." Operation Stand Down is a nation-wide program that helps homeless veterans "combat" life on the streets. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about one
  • Maj. Dwight Minnick, 552nd Maintenance Operations Squadron Commander

    Building Bridges: The Framework for Mission Success

    1986 seems almost like a lifetime ago. I was a young Airman First Class assigned to the 391st Aircraft Maintenance Unit (AMU) at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Our AMU maintained a fleet of F-111A's, an aircraft that has long since retired from our inventory. The work was hard and the hours long because the mission always came first. My AMU
  • Capt. Danny Stout, a USAF air liaison officer deployed with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, contacts F-16s flying overhead, above the mountains of Afghanistan. (USAF photo by SSgt. Russell Wicke)

    More Tinker Air Battle Managers become Air Liaison Officers

    As more and more Air Battle Managers from the 552nd Air Control Wing are needed to fill Air Liaison Officer (ALO) billets, it is interesting to take a look at the origins of the ALO position and its impact on the ABM rated career field. ALOs were first used in WWII before Operation COBRA, the Allied breakout into Normandy in July 1944. The
  • Lt. Col. Robert Haines, 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron commander.

    Service - It is not about Us

         While watching the Olympic Games this year, I was amazed by the accomplishments and dedication of the competitors. Although I enjoyed watching the events, I found many of the interviews and personal stories more enjoyable. I was particularly impressed with a U.S. sprinter in the Women's 400m event. When a reporter asked her how she felt about

  • Senior leaders meet to discuss, decide way ahead for force

    Senior Air Force leaders gathered for a strategic summit Aug. 27 at Bolling Air Force Base to discuss the way ahead for the Air Force as a part of the August emphasis on strategic planning. "The summit allows us to identify issues that need senior leader review and decide on matters affecting the entire Air Force," Acting Secretary of the Air Force
  • Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, Commander, 8th Air Force, passes the flag, and command of the 552nd Air Control Wing to Col. Patricia Hoffman in a change of command ceremony August 27th. Photo Courtesy of 2nd Lt. Kinder Blacke.

    Change of leadership for 552d ACW

    Col. Patricia D. Hoffman accepted command of the 552nd Air Control Wing from Brig. Gen. Lori J. Robinson in a traditional change of command ceremony August 27th in Dock 2. Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, 8th Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony, taking the wing guide-on from General Robinson and giving it - as well as command of more than 5,000
  • Hundreds of Airmen from the 552nd Air Control Wing and other units on base wait in anticipation for the wing commander's fini flight to arrive.

    Wing Commander Celebrates Fini Flight

         Brig. Gen. Lori Robinson, commander, 552 Air Control Wing, celebrated her final flight on the E-3 as her term as commander of the wing comes to an end. Hundreds of Airmen from the 552nd ACW and other units on base congregated on the flightline to help her celebrate in the traditional way, soaking her with water and champagne.      General
  • Chief Master Sgt. Stephen C. Sullens, Command Chief, Air Combat Command greets members of the 552nd Air Control Wing at an Airmen’s Breakfast at Vanwey Dining Facility during his visit. Chief Sullens discussed various topics with the Airmen including the new military uniform, physical fitness, deployments and sponsorship. Photo by 2nd Lt. Kinder Blacke.

    ACC Command Chief visits 552d ACW

    The 552nd Air Control Wing welcomed a visit from the command chief of Headquarters Air Combat Command, Chief Master Sgt. Steve Sullens August 3 - 5. According to Chief Sullens, his primary duty is communication. Visiting ACC units around the world better prepares the Chief to provide council on airmen and family readiness to the ACC Commander,

  • Air Force Air control now centralized within 552d Air Control Wing

    The 552d Air Control Wing brings flexible and responsive battle management capability to combatant commanders. As of May 1st, the 552 ACW scope of responsibility expanded beyond airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) to include ground-based systems. The 552d Air Control Group will stand up as the 552d Communications Group stands down in an
  • Lt. Col. Arthur Moore, 552 Air Control Networks Squadron Commander

    WHERE THE AIR FORCE NEEDS YOU MOST: Outside your comfort zone

    I'm sure most of you have heard the phrase "I'm in the zone" or "you're in the zone man." Well, usually this is something to be celebrated because it suggests that you've reached a point of peak performance--so much so that you're almost on autopilot. You're in your "comfort zone." Although this may be great for the ego, if it's not coupled with a
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