The 625th Strategic Operations Squadron at Barksdale AFB, La., competing for the first time for the Phillips Award, presented to the best overall missile squadron, has taken the honor for 2009. The 625th STOS, now an Air Force Global Strike Command unit, has several missions, including ICBM targeting and targeting system operations, ballistic missile engineering and trajectory analysis, the Strategic Automated Command and Control system, and Airborne Launch Control System training, operations, testing, and evaluation. The squadron commander, Lt. Col Ronald Allen, credits his “exceptional personnel” and “world-class mission partners” for the squadron’s win. “We definitely have an all-star lineup of dedicated professionals; I’m truly honored to be on their team,” said Allen. (The Association of Air Force Missileers sponsors the award, named after the late Gen. Samuel C. Phillips.) (AFGSC report by Megan Orton)
The Air Force plans to have its new Integrated Capabilities Command stood up by the end of 2024, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said May 2, offering new details of one of the signature reforms announced by the service earlier this year. Allvin said around 500-800 Airmen will…