Edwards AFB Desert Wings Newspaper October 14, 2016

Public Affairs, Volume 63, Number 63

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Oct. 14, 2016

New CTF focuses on autonomy, small UAS, new technologies

Maj. Dan Riley, Emerging Technologies Combined Test Force director, speaks about the new CTF at a 412th Operations Group commander’s call in the base theater Oct. 3. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ethan Wagner)

By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs

The 412th Test Wing has a new organization that will explore the Air Force warfighting capabilities of tomorrow.

The Emerging Technologies Combined Test Force was officially activated in early July and its mission is to provide agile, innovative flight test capabilities for emerging technologies.

“We’ve had various commercial and innovation projects

coming in and we needed a way to manage all of them,” said Maj. Dan Riley, Emerging Technologies CTF director. “There are new technologies that are not necessarily highly developed and are not yet operational, but may be coming down the pipe – things we may not be prepared for. The CTF will create test capabilities that do not currently exist and help eliminate strategic surprise to the 412th Test Wing.”

Riley said that an increasing number of upcoming test programs are below the scope of the current CTFs in the test wing. The existing CTFs are focused on “high-performance, high-dollar-figure items.” The Emerging Technologies CTF is focused more in the thousands-of-dollars-range.

Currently, the primary focus for the new CTF is autonomous systems. Riley said these are the big technologies coming in the near future and are in large demand from the Air Force because autonomous systems provide a tactical battlefield advantage and can help reduce manpower requirements.

“Our manpower is shrinking, and we already have requirements that are greater than our manpower will allow. Autonomous systems will help us alleviate that problem,” said Riley.

However, testing an aircraft that is “self-thinking” and “self-learning” poses challenges.

“We don’t necessarily know how to test autonomous sysSee CTF, page 2

Desert High presented grant to help with STEM subjects

By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs

Desert Junior-Senior High School hosted a kickoff celebration Oct. 11 to announce a $700,000 Department of Defense grant to launch the National Math and Science Initiative’s College Readiness Program.

Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, attended the event and talked to the students about the importance of taking math and science courses in school and how her education in those subjects has helped her throughout her career.

DHS joins a network of more than 1,000 schools nationwide that have adopted the program, which according to NMSI, is dramatically increasing the number of students succeeding in rigorous advanced placement coursework in math, science and English and is transforming schools into centers of college readiness. The program’s elements include extensive teacher training, extra time on task for students during Saturday study sessions, exam fees, classroom equipment, supplies and awards for achievement.

Marcus Lingenfelter, NMSI state and federal programs senior vice president, says NMSI’s military initiative was launched in 2010 in recognition of the need to improve educational opportunities for students of military families. NMSI receives money from the DOD to supply to schools in need

During her trip to the area Oct. 11, Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski, Air Force Materiel Command commander, participated in a number of activities marking the start of the Desert Junior-Senior High School ‘s National Math & Science Initiative program. Pawlikowski attended an NMSI luncheon, met with STEM students and teachers, and also delivered a keynote speech at the school.

(U.S. Air Force photo by Chris Okula)

and has expanded from four military-connected schools in 2010 to 160 schools across 29 states this year.

NMSI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming STEM education in DOD school classrooms with proven, effective programs that can be replicated nationwide, Lingenfelter said.

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Airman Leadership School Class 16-G graduates 27 Airmen

Senior Airman Brian Cozzie, 412th Maintenance Squadron, is Airman Leadership School Class 16-G’s John L. Levitow Award winner. The Levitow award is presented to the student that demonstrated the most outstanding leadership and scholastic qualities. Selection for the Levitow award is based on academic performance and assignment of points by peers and instructors. Class 16-G graduated Sept. 29 at Club Muroc. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joseph Gocong)

By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs

The 412th Force Support Squadron’s Airman Leadership School graduated its latest class of potential NCOs Sept. 29.

Twenty-seven senior airmen, not only from Edwards but from throughout the region, took the stage at Club Muroc during the graduation ceremony. Congratulations to all Airmen who took the next step in their Air Force careers.

ALS CLASS 16-G Wedewer, Cameron D., 78th Attack Squadron (Creech Air Force Base, Nevada) Venegasmontes, O., 412th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Magana, Andrew M., 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

From CTF, page 1 tems. For example, I have a system that is supposed to survey an area over here. We expect, based on terrain and weather, it should take a certain route, but then it takes another route and we didn’t predict that. But is that okay? Maybe it is or maybe not. We (the CTF) have to come up with plans and regulations so I can tell the operations group commander, ‘I don’t know what it’s going to do, but it’s okay.’”

With the recent explosion of relatively inexpensive commercial and military unmanned aircraft systems being used, the new CTF initially will heavily focus on small unmanned aircraft systems. The goal of the new test force is to develop test plans and regulations and to identify areas around Edwards for testing these systems. The CTF works with commercial partners, NASA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the Air Force Civil Engineering and Air Force Security Forces centers, who use SUAS in their missions.

Recently, the Federal Aviation Administration published rules regarding commercial and civilian use of unmanned aircraft use. The FAA publication grants more access to users, but there are still restrictions. The CTF hopes to create mutual partnerships with commercial SUAS producers so both sides can benefit from testing at Edwards.

“We want to learn from what they’re doing because the

Aiken, Justin A., 412th Logistics Test Squadron Cozzie, Brian R., 412th Maintenance Squadron Rhodes, Matthew D., 412th Security Forces Squadron Oneil, Thomas J., 412th Security Forces Squadron Bahena, Nori R., 412th Security Forces Squadron Lizauckas, Amy M., 912th Air Refueling Squadron (March Air Reserve Base, California) Boyd, Phillip M., 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron Burke, John R., 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron Pullins, Joseph V., 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron Gandy, Amanda R., 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Slaght, Maxwell J., 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Gaines, Matthew F., Detachment 2 Security Forces (Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana) Wedewer, Cameron D., 78th Attack Squadron (Creech AFB) Lawson, Lydia M., 195th Comptroller Flight (Beale Air Force Base, California) Ramirez, Maria M., U.S. Air Force Reserve Alexander, Lloyd D., 301st Civil Engineer Squadron (Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base) Rueda, Alicia, 752nd Medical Squadron (March ARB) Sartain, Mia M., 452nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (March ARB) Yamamoto, Carlos D., 752nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (March ARB) Okada, Jason I., 624th Aerospace Medicine Squadron (Andersen Air Force Base, Guam) Stewart, Bradley S., 940th Security Forces Squadron (Beale AFB) Johnson, Tiberius E., 940th Security Forces Squadron (Beale AFB) Bonner, Schaeffer N., 304th Rescue Squadron (Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon) Miller, Matthew C., 56th Aerial Port Squadron (March Air Reserve Base, California) commercial companies are far ahead of what the DOD is doing. Our focus is bringing the test capability to Edwards and figuring out how to test SUAS. The reason people want to come here is our restricted airspace. We can do things here they can’t do with the FAA. The CTF will oversee safety procedures and planning,” said Riley.

The focus on SUAS coincides with the Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan published April 30, which outlines the vision and strategy for the continued development, operation and sustainment of SUAS over the next 20 years for the Air Force. A large focus of the flight plan is autonomous systems. According to Riley, “SUAS are the primary testbed for autonomous systems, and that is why we have the joint focus on both technologies.”

Riley said after test programs of record are established, the CTF may pass along the testing requirements to another CTF for further development so the ET CTF can move on to “the next big thing.”

The first official test of the CTF is planned for the end of November. The project was brought to the CTF from the base innovation team and will involve a quadcopter fixed with a transmitter to see if the 412th Range Squadron can calibrate their telemetry equipment more efficiently by using a non-fixed antenna that is mobile and above ground, which will be the quadcopter.

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Blue Mountain Tribe: local band gets national attention

By Christopher Ball 412th Test Wing Public Affairs

Their only recording hangs on their producer’s wall among such names as Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Gene Simmons and Joe Bonamassa, but they aren’t nearly as well-known.

Yet. The band’s first and only album, “All My Relations,” was recently named Best Blues Recording at the 2016 Native American Music Awards.

They are Blue Mountain Tribe, a blues rock band based in Tehachapi, California. The band’s five members are all Native American, and three are members of Team Edwards.

Band members Robin “Bubba” Hairston and son Caleb, Pat Mata, James Bixler and Joseph Sandoval released the album in 2014.

The album was one of 824 submitted for consideration, and among six nominated for the award.

According to Mata, the band didn’t really expect to win, but when they did things really started taking off.

“We were told by people all over the music industry that another band that was going to win. They tour all over the world, and they’ve got five CDs out. We have one CD out, and we haven’t left the United States, so we figured they were going to win,” Hairston said.

“This is a big deal - bigger than we thought. Things are happening fast,” Mata said. “After you win a big event like this, you get lots of attention.”

Bubba Hairston said there were multiple magazines interested in the Blue Mountain Tribe story, and that the band’s

Blue Mountain Tribe - Pat Mata, Joseph Sandoval, Caleb Hairston, Robin “Bubba” Hairston and James Bixler – recently won ‘Best Blues Recording’ at the Native American Music Awards. All band members are Native American, and three are members of Team Edwards. (Photo courtesy of Blue Mountain Tribe)

schedule was filling up quickly.

“They’re considering having us play at NAMA in New York City next year,” Hairston said.

Hairston said he was planning to travel to New York to represent the band at the NAMA ceremony this year, but situations changed and he opted do something else with the money he’d saved for the trip.

“They’re building a pipeline through Indian territory and burial grounds,” he said. “They (Native American protesters) were without food, water and diapers, just the necessities to survive.”

Hairston said they decided to donate the travel money to the people of the Standing Rock, South Dakota protest.

AFMC promotes ‘RECESS’ physical activity challenge for workforce Air Force Materiel Command Health & Wellness Team

During the months of October through December, Air Force Materiel Command will promote its RECESS physical activity challenge.

RECESS is a command-wide initiative that is conducted

by Civilian Health Promotion Services, to help the AFMC workforce increase movement by promoting short bursts of physical activity throughout the day.

According to a 2015 study of the health effects of sedentary time on adults published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, more than half of the average person’s waking hours are spent sitting, watching television, working at a computer, driving or doing other physically inactive pursuits.

The study documented higher rates of Type 2 diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease in very sedentary people.

The RECESS physical activity challenge promotes regular movement to combat sedentary behavior. Examples of ways to increase movement would include: • Taking short walks during lunch and throughout the day.

• Using the stairs instead of the elevator.

• Standing while talking on the phone.

• If you work at a desk for long periods of time, try a standing desk – or improvise with a high table or counter.

Moving more and sitting less daily will help you to counteract the detrimental health effects of sitting. The key is to move your body frequently during the course of the day.

(U.S. Air Force graphic)

How to participate in the RECESS Challenge: 1.Enroll online at http://www.afmcwellness.com/ between Sept. 19-Oct. 26.

2. Complete the initial check-in event with CHPS between Oct. 5-26.

3. Perform and log at least 720 minutes (12 hours) of physical activity between Oct. 17 - Dec. 2. Log activity minutes on the http://www.afmcwellness.com/ Activity Log from Oct. 17–Dec. 2.

4. Attend the CHPS education class, “Physical Health Triangle” between Oct. 17 - Dec. 2.

5. Attend final check-out with CHPS between Dec. 6-16 to receive the challenge completion award.

Participants who complete the RECESS physical activity challenge requirements will receive a free Restore Strong Core & Back Kit from CHPS. Contact your physician before beginning any physical activity program to be sure it is safe.

For more information, visit http://www.afmcwellness.com/.

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This Week in Edwards Flight Test History On Oct. 14, 1947, on his ninth powered flight in the airplane, Capt. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager piloted the Bell X-1, “Glamorous Glennis,” named after his wife, to a speed of 699.4 mph at 43,000 feet (Mach 1.06), and became the first to exceed the speed of sound. This X-1 flight established that aircraft could be designed to exceed the previously deemed “sound barrier.” (Edwards History Office file photo)

ll & HEALTH FA A F Y L I M FA Hosted by the 412 MDG IR in Observance of Domestic Violence Prevention Month Friday, October 21, 2016 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM, Wings “Soccer” Field, Edwards AFB

balloons Free giveaways Child ID kits face painting henna tattoos music & Food Bouncy Castles free health screenings McGruff & Scruff crime dogs Fire and Police demonstrations something for everyone and more!

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Commander, 412th TW ................ Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer Installation Support Director ..................... Dr. David Smith Command Chief .............. Chief Master Sgt. Todd Simmons Director, 412th TW, Public Affairs ................... Ed Buclatin Editor ......................................................... Kenji Thuloweit Contributors ................... Christopher Ball, Dawn Waldman To submit articles or upcoming events send an email to newsroom@edwards.af.mil