Officials from Hill AFB, Utah, and Sunset Ridge Development Partners held a ceremony to welcome one new building on the base while simultaneously breaking ground on another. The event celebrated the completion of a brand new 35,000-square-foot facility for the 75th Security Forces Squadron and the start of construction for a new commercial office building on the base’s west side. “This ribbon-cutting and ground-breaking event signifies the bright future in store for Hill,” said Col. Sarah Zabel, 75th Air Base Wing commander, during the January ceremony. Both projects fall under the Falcon Hill initiative, which aims to bring revitalized infrastructure, including new buildings, roads, and utilities, to Hill. Zabel said Falcon Hill “benefits the base and the communities outside the gate by stimulating growth in northern Utah.” (Hill report by Rich Essary)
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.