Airmen from the 15th Maintenance Squadron’s munitions flight, along with an additional 62 munitions personnel deployed from six other USAF units, have worked tirelessly since late June checking in munitions for more than 60 aircraft participating in the Rim of the Pacific exercise. MSgt. Michael Stephens, the 15th MXS munitions flight chief, said his team, which provides support and infrastructure at JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam for more than 100 tons of munitions and cargo, has been prepping for the exercise for months. Working with the visiting units has proved a great success, Stephens said, as ammo normally has a large logistical footprint and needs a lot of coordination to plan and execute sorties. “The multilateral, international integration has been almost seamless,” he said. SrA. Michael Riffe, a 15th MXS munitions flight custody account manager, said the small space has provided a lot of networking opportunities. “I’ve been able to meet new people, see how things function at other bases, and pick up knowledge about things I don’t normally get to see here,” Riffe said.
NASA Boss: Race to Moon Has National Security Stakes
Sept. 15, 2026
NASA is pushing hard to get astronauts back to the moon by 2028—and the urgency is driven in no small part by the national security implications of doing so before China does, Administrator Jared Isaacman said Sept. 15.
