The 17th Operational Weather Squadron at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, has completed its consolidation of weather units in the Pacific region with the recent inactivation of the 11th OWS at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The 17th OWS began this consolidation, an effort designed to save money and manpower, in 2006, merging with the 20th OWS formerly at Yokota AB, Japan. Airmen of the 17th now provide all weather support for US Pacific Command, US Forces Korea, PACAF, US Army Pacific Command, PACOM Special Operations Component, and US Pacific Fleet. (17th OWS report by MSgt. Jesse Lee)
A top Pentagon tech official called on industry this week to help the military develop “lighter, more efficient” directed energy weapons designed to go on aircraft and conduct special operations missions or down drones—areas where the Air Force’s directed energy efforts have been quiet as of late.