Capt. Bob Bernazal, chief of the information operations integration strategy division within the 612th Air and Space Operations Center at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., has been named the Air Force-level Outstanding Information Operations Active Duty Company Grade Officer of the Year. He received this award July 30, being honored for his instrumental planning role in Operation Willing Spirit, the July 2008 mission led by the Colombian military that rescued 15 hostages, including three American in Colombia from the hands of the FARC terrorist group. “I’m very proud that information operations could bring its full power to bear in support of this mission,” said Bernazal, a nine-year USAF veteran and native of Kingwood, Tex. The award also recognized his efforts in developing and implementing a new plan for utilizing IO duty officers. (Davis-Monthan report by TSgt. Eric Petosky)
Air Force F-16 pilots are testing out new sensors that could help maximize their performance and avoid deadly accidents while flying fast fighter jets under heavy G-forces and stressful conditions.