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AIRLIFT WING DELIVERS MORE THAN JUST THE PRESIDENT
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MOVING
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MISSION
hen the nation’s top military and civilian leaders travel to conduct important diplomatic and humanitarian missions, a United States Air Force Academy graduate with the 89th Airlift Wing is usually somewhere in the background. The 89th was first activated as a troop carrier wing in 1949, but it wasn’t until 1966 that the organization was charged with “Special Air Mission” (SAM) responsibilities for high-ranking dignitaries. According to Col. Christopher Thompson ’93, vice commander of the 89th, approximately 1,400 people are currently assigned to carry out the mission of the wing. Of that total, about 1,000 are Blue Suiters. The wing currently flies, serves and maintains 17 airplanes out of Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C. The 89th provides transportation services to the president through the Presidential Airlift Group (PAG) and to the vice president, secretary of defense, secretary of state, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the First Lady through the 99th Airlift Squadron and the 1st Airlift Squadron. “It’s really a fantastic wing to be a part of,” Thompson says. “When people hear about the 89th Airlift Wing, they think about the Presidential Airlift Group, and that is a big part of what we do. But it’s not the only thing that we do.” Overall, the wing includes four groups and seven squadrons: PAG, 89th Operations Group, 89th Maintenance Group, 89th Airlift Support Group, Presidential Airlift Squadron, Presidential Logistics Squadron, 1st Airlift Squadron, 99th Airlift Squadron, 89th Operations Support Squadron, 89th Communications Squadron and 89th Aerial Port Squadron. “Last year we probably touched 100-plus nations,” Thompson says. “For the size of the unit we are — really just three flying squadrons — we have an amazing footprint around the world as we help to carry out our nation’s interests.” Apart from pilots (approximately 50 of whom are Academy graduates), the wing employs a myriad of support staff — flight attendants, communications technicians, maintainers, logistics experts, flight engineers, airfield managers and more.
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Colonel Thompson ‘93
th Lieutenant Colonel Kirkland ‘99
Unlike most of the Air Force, the 89th is allowed to handpick its pilots and support staff. That ensures that the Air Force’s best mobility airmen are assigned to the high-profile mission. Thompson notes that the Air Force has just two “no-fail” missions. One is the nuclear enterprise, and the second is transport for our nation’s leaders. “One well-executed diplomatic mission that we’re supporting will hopefully prevent 1,000 combat sorties,” Thompson explains. “If one well-executed mission can do that, then we’ve done our job.” Because of the importance of the wing’s mission, Thompson says, everyone hired at the 89th adheres to the wing’s SAM Fox (Special Air Mission-Foreign) standards. “Perfection is our standard,” he explains. “We know we’re never going to be perfect, but our goal is to strive for perfection. And you expect the person sitting next to you or working next to you to be doing the same thing.” The wing has been front and center for a number of high-profile missions of late, including the first presidential visit to Cuba in 88 years, the Iran nuclear negotiations and the extraction of American detainees from Iran. “All the things that are happening in the world, somewhere in the background is an 89th airplane supporting those folks who are making it happen,” Thompson says.
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Lt. Col. Jason Kirkland ’99 has been with the 89th for the past four years. He currently serves as the commander of the 99th Airlift Squadron. He became interested in joining the 89th back in the early 2000s, flying into Andrews with his previous DV (distinguished visitor) Airlift responsibilities. “I’d always see the blue and white planes — kind of the iconic symbol of America,” he recalls. “They were carrying our nation’s colors … carrying the most important, most influential communicators and holders of American power.” Kirkland had to wait, however, until he amassed enough varied experience and professional expertise before he could apply. Pilots who hope to fly for the wing are required to have a 34 · usafa.org
Lieutenant Colonel Christensen ’01
Lieutenant Colonel Riddle ’97
minimum of 2,500 flight hours and an exemplary flight record. Most new hires, however, have between 3,000 and 4,000 hours of experience. The prospective pilots also must be able to attain the stringent security clearances required for the job. Kirkland is thrilled, to say the least, to be part of the team today. “It can be cliché, but excellence in all we do is obviously a core value of the Air Force,” he says. “To find men and women who day-in and day-out preach that and put it into practice … it’s contagious and something you want to be around.” Kirkland adds the mission of the 89th is unlike most assignments in the Air Force. Through most of his career, Kirkland would transport people to “break things and blow things up.” Today, he’s part of the team that tries to keep the peace. “We are taking statesmen overseas to further our interests,” he explains. “We’re the ones going in there before things happen — laying the groundwork, and setting the framework for diplomacy.”
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The current director of staff at the 89th is Lt. Col. Lisa Christensen ’01. She is responsible for identifying the creamof-the-crop candidates who would fit in well with the wing and its mission. She also continues to fly regularly for the 89th. Her husband also is part of the wing, flying for the 1st Airlift Squadron. “We were lucky enough to get picked up and come here,” she says. “It’s awesome to get to fly all around the country and support our users. I’ve gotten to put a lot of different pins on the map.” Christensen says there is no “typical day” at the 89th, which makes everyone’s job more exciting and rewarding. As a hiring professional, Christensen offers some advice for cadets who would aspire to an assignment such as the 89th. “Always be open to new adventures,” she explains. “Be willing to take jobs that might not be exactly what you think is the career path to get where you want to go. All the jobs — whether it be flying or staff — will broaden you and your job knowledge.” And, she adds, stay in touch with your fellow graduates as you advance through the Air Force. You never know when that network might help you.
Lieutenant Colonel Doty ‘01
Lieutenant Colonel Queen ‘97
Lieutenant Colonel Caparella ’96
“IT’S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK INTERAGENCY AND I N T E R - G O V E R N M E N T A L ... IT’S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE IN D.C. IT’S BEEN SO REMARKABLE TO BE A PART OF HISTORY.” — C ap t. Marg o Sh i elds ’1 1 ***
The commander for the 1st Airlift Squadron for the past two years has been Lt. Col. Justin Riddle ’97. The squadron operates the C-40s, C-32s and C-17s in the wing’s fleet. Riddle came to the wing in atypical fashion. After flying C-17s for 11 years, Riddle left the Air Force for an airline career. A short time later, he was furloughed from his civilian position as the nation’s economic tanked. As a result, he returned to active duty. Three years after returning to the Air Force, Riddle talked with a few friends assigned to the 89th who encouraged him to apply. Riddle was eventually hired to fly C-40s. “The 89th Airlift Wing is probably different than any other assignments that I’ve had,” he admits. “In this world, it’s not uncommon to have the secretary of state or the vice president of United States come up to the flight deck and tell you they need to go to Point B instead of Point C, and it’s up to you to make that happen. I definitely enjoy the opportunities to get involved in solving those types of problems.” Riddle also appreciates the “family feel” of the 89th. Pilots, leadership and support personnel typically stick around for longer periods of time when compared to other Air Force missions.
Lieutenant Colonel Diesselhorst ’01
Major Cannone ’05
Captain Sheilds ’11
“We’re on average a little bit older and more mature and more experienced,” he explains.
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Lt. Col. Joshua Doty ’01, pilot with the 1st Airlift Squadron, admits there’s more than a little bit of extra stress felt by 89th members because of the importance of their collective mission. The wing’s SAM Fox standard requires that everyone involved in the mission strives to keep the key customers “safe, connected and protected” throughout their travels. “We hold ourselves to the highest standards to help them do their jobs,” he says. “If we fail to launch, or if we fail to make a destination on time, then United States leaders fail to make their meetings and fail to … advance our foreign and domestic policy. It’s a heavy burden, but it’s one we gladly take on and cherish.”
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Lt. Col. Jeff Queen ’97, deputy group commander for the 89th Operations Group, has been with the wing for more than five years. He plans to retire in June, completing 20 years in the Air Force. “This is a fantastic way to end a career,” Queen says. “I’ve loved my time here.” The biggest challenge facing the wing over the coming months is the change in administrations at the White House. Because former President Barack Obama was in office for eight years, few members of the 89th have experienced a transition in power. Queen says wing officials have updated the “contact guide” for the White House and the other senior military and civilian leaders who will use the transport services provided by the 89th. The document outlines the capabilities of the wing and its rules regarding safety and trip planning. “Changes in administration are challenging for us, but it also gives us a great opportunity to set expectations,” Queen notes. “Users continuously push the boundaries. Holding them to the things we can and can’t do … that erodes over time. This is a great opportunity for us to re-level the playing field.” Checkpoints · March 2017 · 35
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According to Lt. Col. Tony Caparella ’96, deputy group commander for the 89th Operations Group, being involved with the 89th expands the worldview of everyone assigned to Andrews. “There is 99 percent more happening outside ... than what we see on local news,” he explains. “The 89th does provide a broader view of what’s going on and the importance of it.” Caparella says he is proud to play a small role in making history happen. “I’ve always been proud to serve my country,” he says, “whether I was carrying bullets or bombs in the back of a C-5, or carrying our soldiers back from overseas … everything that we do supports our country. The patriotism never leaves, even on the worst days.” Caparella says the 89th is re-evaluating its mission and determining who the wing will serve now and in the future. Some years ago, the 89th provided transport to group commanders and wing commanders as well as the top military and civilian leaders. Today, the mission is only for combatant commanders and higher. “What are DV operations going to look like? Where do we stop with the support for DV operations?” he says in explaining the current conversation.
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Lt. Col. Hollie Nicole Diesselhorst ’01, a Gulfstream pilot in the 99th Airlift Squadron, had been away from flying for three years before she landed a spot with the 89th just six months ago. “That was probably what was most exciting for me — getting back in the cockpit,” she says. “Plus the mission is awesome. It’s fast paced and you can be called at a moment’s notice to fly anywhere in the world.” 36 · usafa.org
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Two of her favorite recent trips were to Hawaii and Turkey. Just like any other Air Force assignment, Diesselhorst admits flying isn’t the only aspect of her job. She still has to deal with the mundane as well. “OPRs (officer performance reports) still need to get done. Paperwork still has to be processed,” she smiles. “It’s not all piloting and it’s not all just flying the airplanes. Most of us wish that it could be, but it’s not.” Avoiding discussions about hot-button topics also is part of the job, Diesselhorst adds. “I make it standard not to talk about politics,” she says.
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Maj. Anthony Cannone ’05 flies the C-20, C-37A and C-37B for the 99th Airlift Squadron. He was a pilot with Air Mobility Command prior to his current assignment. There’s a much different vibe at the 89th than at other Air Force locales, Cannone suggests, because pretty much everyone wants to be at Andrews and they stay for longer periods of time. “We only get people who are interested in coming here,” he explains. “I think, across the Air Force, there’s always people who didn’t want to be here or there. We see a lot of people where this is their top choice.” Cannone’s favorite mission to date, among many memorable experiences he’s had with the 89th, was the Iran hostage prisoner exchange in early 2016. He reports that an incredible amount of coordination and negotiation was required to make it happen. “We probably heard between 20 or 30 different plans about how it was going to go down,” he says. “Ultimately, we weren’t
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President Barack Obama and Airmen from the Presidential Logistics Squadron, stand in formation in front of Air Force One, an 89th Airlift Wing VC-25, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., prior to Obama’s trip to New York City, May 4, 2015. The PLS is responsible for maintaining the VC-25s. This particular VC-25 returned to service after an 18-month heavy, depot-level maintenance cycle.
Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Wallace
on the news, but we were the ones who transferred the prisoners to American custody.”
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Capt. Margo Shields ’11, executive officer for the 89th Airlift Support Group, works to ensure that communication channels are open at all times for military and civilian leaders who are on the airplanes. She also helps direct operations of the aerial port, coordinating ground services for the many flights that come in and out of Andrews on a daily basis. A Russian immigrant who vowed to serve her adopted country following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Shields is pleased to be part of a team that supports the nation’s top leaders. “It’s truly a dream come true to be here in the nation’s capital helping to further national security,” she says.
Shields reports that one of her most memorable experiences with the 89th was coordinating all of the incoming flights of two dozen international leaders attending the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C. Ground services that Shields helped coordinate included everything from cargo shipments to baggage screening to aircraft lavatory cleaning. Other missions she’s helped support were President Obama’s historic trip to Cuba and the transport of dignitaries to tribunals at Guantanamo Bay. “It’s been an incredible opportunity to work interagency and inter-governmental,” the political science major says. “It’s an exciting time to be in D.C. It’s been so remarkable to be a part of history.” Checkpoints · March 2017 · 37