Members of the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, recently demonstrated new security forces equipment designed to make monitoring for threats easier and responding to emergencies more efficient. This gear is collectively known as the Joint Force Protection Advanced Security System, or JFPASS. Spangdahlem received the equipment in January and is now the sole operational Defense Department installation involved in assessing it. “JFPASS is a force protection system that fuses, automates, and integrates dissimilar technology into a common operational picture,” explained Joe Fagan, the system’s operational manager. Officials from US Air Forces in Europe, US European Command, and NATO witnessed the demonstration Aug. 20 as base security forces put JFPASS sensors, cameras, robots, and software through the paces. The equipment will remain at Spangdahlem for about another half year, giving airmen the opportunity to provide more feedback. (Spangdahlem report by 1st Lt. Kathleen Polesnak)
Billy Mitchell: Lessons a Hundred Years Hence
Dec. 16, 2025
Exactly 100 years ago, on Dec. 17, 1925, Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell was convicted by court-martial for violating an order that required approval before he could engage with the media. Mitchell’s provocative thoughts and unorthodox methods sought attention for a cause that he saw as uniquely American.
