Air Force Reserve Col. Michael Hernandez was selected to become the only reservist currently commanding an Active Duty wing, taking charge of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall AFB, Fla. “I’m thankful for the opportunity the Air Force is giving me to lead the wing,” said Hernandez, who previously served as deputy commander of the Reserve 482nd FW at Homestead ARB, Fla. “This is another example of the Air Force’s commitment to the Total Force,” he added. Hernandez is one of several Reserve officers recently selected to head up Active Duty units under the Extended Active Duty tour program, which grants officers more career-development and command opportunities, AFRC announced. Also selected were Lt. Col. Matthew Bianchini, who will command the 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Dover AFB, Del., and Maj. Albert Knapp,? who will command the 56th Maintenance Squadron at Kirtland AFB, N. M., according to the release. A Reserve officer is currently vice commander of the Active Duty 23rd MXS at Moody AFB, Ga., under the same program. Active Duty officers also currently lead AFRC’s 919th Special Operations Wing at Duke Field, Fla., and the 815th Airlift Squadron at Keesler AFB, Miss.
Exasperated with the delays to the F-35’s Tech Refresh 3 update—which has held up deliveries of completed fighters since last fall—the House Armed Services Committee wants to slash the military services’ fiscal 2025 F-35 purchase by at least 10 aircraft and as much as 20.