Vol. 64 No. 11 March 22, 2013
Nellis accepts delivery of F-35 with ceremony By Master sgt. Kelley J. stewart 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — In the Thunderbird Hangar filled to capacity, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Lofgren, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander, formally accepted delivery of three F-35A Lightning IIs March 19. The aircraft will be assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron where they will undergo operational testing. During the ceremony, the general focused on the importance of the F-35 program to the Air Force and the USAF Warfare Center by tying the aircrafts’ arrival to the center’s three priorities. The first priority of the warfare center is developing capabilities and leaders who can fight in a contested environment. One of the focus areas for the 422nd TES will be operational testing to develop tactics for the aircraft and pilots. “What lies ahead for the 422nd TES and the 53rd Test and Evaluation Group is no small task,” said Orlando Carvalho, executive vice president Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “You will forge the F-35 into the fighter of the future and test it to the limits.” Carvalho went on to say the group’s and squadron’s pilots and maintainers “would take the F-35’s performance to new heights and define the very tactics the F-35 will one day use to defend freedom around the world.” Lofgren expects to see the same dramatic new tactics development with the F-35A as was seen with the F-22.
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U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo
Maj. Gen. Jeffery Lofgren, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander, provides remarks during the F-35A Lightning II arrival ceremony March 19, in the Thunderbird Hangar at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron will design the tactics for the F-35A. The squadron will also determine how to integrate the F-35A with other aircraft in the Air Force inventory.
Pentagon official provides budget update By claudette Roulo American Forces Press Service
SPRINGFIELD, Va. — Expressing the hope that a bill will pass through Congress this week to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year, a senior Pentagon official told an audience
at the Precision Strike conference here that while the bill would fix some problems, other fiscal challenges will remain. “We live in interesting times. It’s an insane budget environment that we’re living in,” said Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for acquisitions, technology and logistics.
But the Defense Department will get through it, he added. “The center may hold,” he said. “We’re not there yet, but I’m seeing some things that make me a little bit hopeful.” Congressional negotiations over a continuing resolution to fund government operations for the remainder of
the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, may yield a bill to send to the president for signature this week, Kendall said. The bill probably would roughly resemble the Defense Department’s requested fiscal year 2013 budget, he added.
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Nellis NOTAM: The 57th Wing is hosting a blood drive at Outdoor Recreation today throughout the day and are
hoping for maximum participation. Certain restrictions apply for donating blood, and include the following: Must be 16 years or older for whole blood donation; must be at least 110 pounds; must wait at least 56 days before donating again. For donors younger than 23, height, weight, and medical restrictions can be found at http://www.unitedbloodservices. org. To schedule an appointment please log on to www.bloodhero.com and use sponsor code: Nellis , you will need to create a log-in, or call Staff Sgt. Donald Arthur at (702) 652-1661. If anyone wishes to donate and cannot make the blood drive, call the local community blood center or call the Mike O’ Callaghan Federal Medical Center at 702-653-2838.
contents News ......................................... 1-5 Health ........................................... 6 Photo Feature ................. 16-17 Living ......................................... 26