The Air Force Weather Agency will redesignate as the 557th Weather Wing, becoming the service’s largest meteorological organization at Offutt AFB, Neb., effective March 27, officials announced. “This transition to an operational wing will allow us to be more ops-focused and responsive to the Air Force, Army, and Joint warfighters needs,” said AFWA Commander Col. William Carle in a release. The 557th WW will retain the former agency’s subordinate 1st Weather Group and 2nd WG and a restructured headquarters, reporting directly to 12th Air Force under Air Combat Command. The unit will grow to 1,700 airmen, retaining AFWA’s emblem with the addition of the Latin blazon, “Coelum Ad Prelium Elige”—choose the weather for battle—harkening back to the Air Weather Service. AWS at Scott AFB, Ill., became the AFWA when it merged with the AF Global Weather Center at Offutt in 1997, according to the report.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3