Routine maintenance keeps Kingpin in control of skies over Iraq

Balad Air Base, Iraq - Technical Sgt. Kelvin Curry, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) shop Noncommissioned officer in charge, replaces a broken belt from an air conditioning unit at Balad Air Base, Iraq. Sergeant Curry is assigned to the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron (EACS) and is deployed from the 728th Air Control Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Also known as Kingpin, the self-sustaining 727th EACS is comprised of nealry 200 Airmen from 27 different Air Force specialties. Air conditioning units like this keep Kingpin's radars, computers and communication equipment cool, allowing its controllers to maintain positive control over aircraft operating in Iraq's 277,000 miles of airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo/Major Damien Pickart)

Routine maintenance keeps Kingpin controlling the skies over Iraq

Balad Air Base, Iraq - Staff Sgt. Robert Gutierrez, an Air Ground Equipment (AGE) maintainer, power washes dirt and debris from an air conditioning unit to improve its efficiency and performance at Balad Air Base, Iraq. Sergeant Gutierrez is assigned to the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron (EACS) and is deployed from the 33rd Maintenance Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Also known as Kingpin, the self-sustaining 727th EACS is comprised of nealry 200 Airmen from 27 different Air Force specialties. Air conditioning units like this keep Kingpin's radars, computers and communication equipment cool, allowing its controllers to maintain positive control over aircraft operating in Iraq's 277,000 miles of airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo/Major Damien Pickart)

Radar technicians keep Kinpin controllers aware of friend versus foe

Balad Air Base, Iraq - Senior Airmen Jason Gleason and Charles Storr, both radar technicians, bench check a UPX-27 Interrogator, a key component of the Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) system, which challenges and identifies aircraft. Both Airmen are assigned to the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron (EACS). Airman Gleason is deployed from the 728th Air Control Squadron (ACS) at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Airman Storr is a volunteer augmentee from the 603rd ACS, Aviano Air Base, Italy. Also known as Kingpin, the self-sustaining 727th EACS is comprised of nealry 200 Airmen from 27 different Air Force specialties. Kingpin is responsible for maintaining positive control over aircraft operating in Iraq's 277,000 miles of airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo/Major Damien Pickart)

Kingpin command post keeps tabs on OIF air operations

Balad Air Base, Iraq - Airman First Class Christina Di Preta and Capt. Francis Luk monitor OIF aircraft operations from inside the Kingpin command post at Balad Air Base, Iraq. Airman Di Preta and Captain Luk are assigned to the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron (EACS) and are deployed from the 728th Air Control Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Also known as Kingpin, the 727th EACS is responsible for maintaining positive control over aircraft operating in Iraq's 277,000 miles of airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo/Major Damien Pickart)

Kingpin maintainer ensures reliable power for OIF air operations controllers

Balad Air Base, Iraq - Airman Yana Overstreet, an Air Ground Equipment (AGE) maintainer, conducts a routine systems check of a generator at Balad Air Base, Iraq. Airman Overstreet is assigned to the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron (EACS) and is deployed from the 728th Air Control Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Also known as Kingpin, the self-sustaining 727th EACS is comprised of nealry 200 Airmen from 27 different Air Force specialties. AGE maintainers are critical to supplying unique power requirements to Kingpin's radar control equipment, ensuring positive control over aircraft operating in Iraq's 277,000 miles of airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo/Major Damien Pickart)

Kingpin Airman controls OIF air operations

Balad Air Base, Iraq - Staff Sgt. Crystal Nelson, an enlisted weapons director, monitors OIF aircraft operations from inside an Operations Module van at Balad Air Base, Iraq. Sergeant Nelson is assigned to the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron (EACS) and is deployed from the 728th Air Control Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Also known as Kingpin, the 727th EACS is responsible for maintaining positive control over aircraft operating in Iraq's 277,000 miles of airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo/Major Damien Pickart)