Chief Master Sgt. Troy A. Engholm

Chief Master Sgt. Troy A. Engholm

Elizabeth Thorn

Elizabeth Thorn

1 Lt. Gabriel Gersten

1 Lt. Gabriel Gersten

Weather balloons keep missions on track

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Mike Bouvender, a contractor with Control Systems Research, Inc., launches a weather balloon Aug. 8. The balloons are used to gather data that supports many of the missions here. (AF photo by Greg Murry)

Water Survival Training

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Marion Riley Taylor practices using a signal mirror during Survival Skills Day on Eglin Air Force Base July 20. Ms. Riley Taylor is an honorary commander for the 33d Fighter Wing's 33d Maintenance Squadron and participated in the event, during which honorary commanders learned land and water survival tactics wing pilots are trained to use in emergency situations. Honorary commanders are civic leaders paired with wing leadership for a year-long immersion in the mission, with a goal of educating the civilians about the Air Force and its people. Honorary commanders from the 53d Wing also participated. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Bryan Franks)

Water Survival Training

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Richard McNeese, honorary commander for the 33d Fighter Wing's 33d Operations Support Squadron, peers over his life preserver unit July 20, preparing for a simulated parachute drag on Eglin Air Force Base. The simulation was part of Survivor Skills Day, during which honorary commanders learned land and water survival tactics wing pilots are trained to use in emergency situations. Honorary commanders are civic leaders paired with wing leadership for a year-long immersion in the mission, with a goal of educating the civilians about the Air Force and its people. Honorary commanders from the 53d Wing also participated. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Bryan Franks)

In control

Sue Payton, Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisitions, operates a remote control at the Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate during a visit June 26, while program manager, Dr. Bill Humbert, explains the software operation. AFRL has identified Lasar Radar, or LADAR, as a sensor technology capable of providing helicopter pilots with landing zone situational awareness during brownout conditions in the desert. A brownout occurs when helicopter blades stir up sand and dust during landing, creating minimal visibility for pilot and crew. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mike Wallace)

Welcome home!

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.-- Staff Sgt. Brad Mitchell, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, talks to Col. Theresa Giorlando, 96th Mission Support Group commander, after returning from deployment. His daughters, Katlyn and Myla, look on. Sergeant Mitchell, and other members of the squadron, were deployed for almost nine months to Kandahar, Afghanistan, as convoy drivers. Master Sgt. Gregory Pocaigue, Tech Sgts. Lorri Mayes and Travis Laws and Senior Airmen Joseph Fougerousse, Tarrick Jackson and Kurt Weiss also returned home. (Photo by Lois Walsh)

Col. Dennis Yates

Col. Dennis Yates

Final hoorah

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Col. Joseph E. Zeis, Jr., 46th Test Wing commander, gets hosed down as part of a pilot tradition after his final flight, or "fini flight," here June 6. The colonel has flown more than 1,500 hours in 26 types of aircraft, including various versions of the F-111, F-15, F-4, T/AT-38, NKC-135 and the B-2 Stealth bomber. Colonel Zeis is scheduled to retire after his June 19 change of command ceremony where he will relenquish command of the 46th TW to Col. Gary Plumb. (U.S. Air Force photo by Will Vandermate)

Pirates invade the library

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Billy Bowlegs Michael Gates visits with Alex Eastman at the library May 19. King Billy visited the library to kick off the summer reading program. Children can earn prizes by completing reading activities from now until the program end July 19.

Three-peat champions

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Jacob Allen, 33rd Fighter Wing, takes a pass from Jamie Cummins and pounds it to the floor of the 96th Civil Engineer Group during the intramural volleyball championships here May 16. The 33rd FW doubly eliminated the 96th in a best-of-three match game, 19-25, 25-18 and 15-7 to win their third intramural volleyball championship in a row. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Senior Airman Aaron Jones

Senior Airman Aaron Jones

Staff Sgt. Daniel Batt

Staff Sgt. Daniel Batt

Award winners

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Dr. Bob Sierakowski, Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate chief scientist, and co-author Olesya I. Zhupanska, University of Florida, recently received an award for co-authoring a paper selected as the best of more than 1,900 entries. The technical paper entitled, "A Study of Impacted Electromechanically Loaded Composite Plates," was named the 2007 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boeing Best Paper by the ASME Aerospace Division's Structure and Materials Committee. (Photo courtesy by Paramount Photography, Honolulu, Hawaii)

2007 Eglin Pet Bazaar

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Senior Airman Kathleen Lee, 96th Security Forces K-9 handler, awaits instructions from Staff Sgt. Gary King, 96th SFS K-9 handler, and Banto, a military working dog, during a demonstration at the pet bazaar May 5. The annual event honors pets and offered a pet show, vendors and visits from McGruff the Crime Dog and Sparky the Fire Dog. Volunteers raising money for an Eglin Military Working Dog Memorial also attended. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Here kitty, kitty

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Taylor Barnett, 11, pets Bobbin, owned by Airman Christing McPheters, 1st Special Operations Equipment Maintenance Squadron. Bobbin was the only cat to attend the Eglin Pet Bazaar May 5. The annual event honors pets and offered a pet show, vendors and visits from McGruff the Crime Dog and Sparky the Fire Dog. Volunteers raising money for an Eglin Military Working Dog Memorial also attended. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. LuCelia Ball)

Combat Skills Training

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Capt. Archer Braxton, 96th Surgical Operations Squadron, negotiates a barbed wire obstacle while tackling a simulated battlefield during Expeditionary Combat Skills training April 18. The exercise culminated three days of combat skills training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. LuCelia Ball)

2007 Marsville Project

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Shanequa Hardy, 16, a Niceville High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet, helps to tape a plastic shelter together. Fifth-grade students from three elementary schools kicked off the Marsville Project culminating six weeks of study about space. The project required students from Cherokee, Valparaiso and Longwood Elementary Schools to experience a day of living in "space" by building a habitat. During the weeks prior to Marsville, students learned about the life support systems to consider before travel into space, such as the need for air, water, transportation and garbage disposal. Each student built a life support system model to bring with them. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

2007 Marsville Project

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Levon Swafford, 11, a fifth grader from Cherokee Elementary School, peeks out of his plastic shelter. Fifth-grade students from three elementary schools kicked off the Marsville Project culminating six weeks of study about space. The project required students from Cherokee, Valparaiso and Longwood Elementary Schools to experience a day of living in "space" by building a habitat. During the weeks prior to Marsville, students learned about the life support systems to consider before travel into space, such as the need for air, water, transportation and garbage disposal. Each student built a life support system model to bring with them. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

2007 Marsville Project

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Air Force Lt. Col. Jim Dutton, a NASA astronaut, speaks to Katelyn Swanger, 10, a fifth grader from Longwood Elementary, during Marsville April 20 inside Hangar 110. She was explaining the purpose of the project to the astronaut. Fifth-grade students from three elementary schools kicked off the Marsville Project culminating six weeks of study about space. The project required students from Cherokee, Valparaiso and Longwood Elementary Schools to experience a day of living in "space" by building a habitat. During the weeks prior to Marsville, students learned about the life support systems to consider before travel into space, such as the need for air, water, transportation and garbage disposal. Each student built a life support system model to bring with them. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

2007 Marsville Project

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Air Force Lt. Col. Jim Dutton, a NASA astronaut, speaks to students from Valparaiso and Longwood elementary schools about the conditions of living in space during Marsville April 20 inside Hangar 110. Fifth-grade students from three elementary schools kicked off the Marsville Project culminating six weeks of study about space. The project required students from Cherokee, Valparaiso and Longwood Elementary Schools to experience a day of living in "space" by building a habitat. During the weeks prior to Marsville, students learned about the life support systems to consider before travel into space, such as the need for air, water, transportation and garbage disposal. Each student built a life support system model to bring with them. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Volunteers recognized at ceremony

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Retired Chief Master Sgt. Alvin Beedie talks to Col. Dean Clemons, 96th Air Base Wing commander, about volunteering. Chief Beedie was recognized as an Angel Award winner in the Retiree category. (Photo by Lois Walsh)

Volunteers recognized for their service

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Mrs. Jane Eidsaune congratulates Eileen Workman and her family for Mrs. Workman's support of the Officers Spouses Club. Volunteers were recognized at an appreciation ceremony April 17. (Photo by Lois Walsh)