Henceforth, the 505th Operations Group and 505th Operations Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev. are designated the 505th Test and Evaluation Group and 505th Test Squadron, respectively. Rebranded last week during a Nellis ceremony, the 505th TEG and its subordinate squadron will now focus on testing and integrating operational air, space, and cyber command and control domains. “These changes align the group and squadron with a revised mission focus, creating a persistent infrastructure to address integration seams,” said Col. Edward McKinzie, commander of the units’ parent 505th Command and Control Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The group will also continue to serve as Air Combat Command’s operational test organization for operational-level C2 of theater air control and ISR systems and be responsible for evaluating and improving USAF air defense radar networks. (Nellis report by Bill Dowell)
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.