Senior Executive Service member Thomas Wells has been named to head the new 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, where BRAC 2005 mandated USAF consolidate human research functions from Brooks City-Base, Tex., and Mesa Research Site, Ariz. • And, Wright-Patt officials will break ground next month for a $330 million construction project to house the new wing. • Air Force Recruiting Service in October will deactivate the 367th Recruiting Group at Robins AFB, Ga., as part of its budget-cutting reorganization; the unit recruited more than 7,000 fledgling airmen in 2007. • The 56th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB, Ariz., plans to deactivate the 63rd Fighter Squadron in spring 2009 as part of a BRAC 2005 action that directed USAF to remove a total of 37 F-16s from Luke.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…