TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- For three days, generations of Airmen celebrated seven decades of the 552nd Air Control Wing's unwavering service to the nation. The event was filled with reverence, reflection, and reunion, marking 70 years since the wings's founding in 1955.
The events welcomed current Airmen, retirees, civic leaders, and cadets. Together, they honored the wing's storied past and its enduring role in the Air Force's global mission. For Col. Kenneth Voigt, 552nd Air Control Wing Commander, the gathering highlighted the generational strength of the wing.
"We have come together to celebrate our past, understand our present, and prepare for the future," said Voigt.
In addition to the formal ceremony, the wing hosted various events throughout the week, including a wing-wide picnic, a 5K run, a bowling tournament, and a gaming competition that fostered camaraderie and connectedness across units. Attendees also participated in a fireside chat, a heritage panel, and explored modern CRC equipment, including the E-3 Sentry.
In addition to the formal ceremony, the wing hosted various events throughout the week, including a wing-wide picnic, a 5K run, and a bowling tournament that fostered camaraderie and connectedness across units. Displays of the E-3 Sentry and Tactical Operations Center-Light (TOC-L) allowed attendees to engage with the mission up close. At the same time, a gaming tournament offered a modern twist on building esprit de corps.
The wing, which originated in 1955 as the 552nd Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, has played a vital role in providing command and control to U.S. and allied forces across every major conflict since the Vietnam War. That history took center stage during the keynote address delivered by retired Gen. Lori J. Robinson, a former commander of the wing and one of the highest-ranking women in U.S. military history.
"I walked into the commander's office this morning and it brought back so many fond memories," Robinson said.
Robinson spoke about the wing's origins at McClellan Air Force Base in California and its early work tracking ballistic missile launches and supporting NASA recovery operations. She described how the wing evolved from those missions into a global command and control powerhouse.
"The wing's aircraft and personnel would deploy often to remote areas of the Pacific region to track ballistic missiles," she said. "The wing also provided similar support for the Discovery and Mercury space missions."
During the Vietnam War, the wing operated under the call sign "Big Eye" and provided airborne early warning and control for U.S. and allied aircraft. Robinson directly connected those operations and the wing's current missions.
"Sound familiar?" she asked. "Anytime, anywhere, anything can happen in our complex world, and when it does, the 552nd Air Control Wing is called upon."
She also noted the wing's contributions to Desert Shield and Desert Storm, highlighting the E-3 Sentry's role in providing real-time command and control during some of history's most intense air campaigns.
"As the effort transitioned from Desert Shield to Desert Storm, the E-3 played a prominent role, providing more than just surveillance," she said. "It was command and control, tanker management and force accountability."
The history continued through operations in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and humanitarian missions like the Hurricane Katrina response in 2005. Robinson emphasized the 552nd's constant readiness and evolving mission set, including the addition of geographically separated air control squadrons in 2008, adding ground base command and control capability.
"The importance of air power is significant," she said. "The ability to be in space and time in any area of responsibility is the strength of air power."
Robinson closed her remarks with gratitude for those serving today and a reminder of the legacy they carry forward.
"In ten years, the Airmen will say they stand on the shoulders of giants, and that's your shoulders," she said. "You all are true heroes, true warfighters, and warriors."
Col. Voigt echoed that sentiment in his thanks to the wing's extended family, including retirees, commanders, chiefs, and spouses.
"Thank you so much for being here tonight as we celebrate what the men and women of America's Wing have accomplished throughout the last 70 years," he said.
The evening served not just as a reflection on the past but as a recommitment to the mission ahead. For the Airmen of the 552nd, the call to lead, guide, and protect in the airspace above remains as urgent and essential as ever.