The Air Force’s emergency experts deployed to Tyndall AFB, Fla., to help coordinate Air Force response to Hurricane Wilma. Known as Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers, the cadre of experts provides command and control capabilities for any Air Force relief efforts in the days ahead. The EPLOs provide Air Force support—airmen, equipment, and supplies—to FEMA and state and local officials. During Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the service deployed 67 EPLOs to 18 local state and federal agencies.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.