The Air Force on Sept. 19 activated the 2nd Weather Group at Offutt AFB, Neb., where it became part of the Air Force Weather Agency, joining the 1st WXG, activated last year. G.A. Volb reports that the new group, which completes the agency restructure, provides a direct leadership level for three squadrons—2nd Systems Operations Squadron ad 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt and 14th WXS (formerly the Combat Climatology Center) at Asheville, N.C.—that were grouped under the agency’s A-staff. Col. Richard Twigg, AFWA vice commander and commander of 2nd WXG, said the activation of his new unit is “the conclusion of a plan to clearly distinguish ongoing operations from planning and support functions.”
A new White House policy calls for the Pentagon to craft plans for additional space launch facilities to support a projected increase in launch demand that could see the U.S. supporting as many as 1,000 launches by 2030, more than a fivefold increase from 2025.