Pacific Air Forces News

DAF extends AMOS STAR Draft EIS comment period following community feedback

USSF Combat Forces Command Public Affairs — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:44:00 GMT

Following input from community members on Maui, the Department of the Air Force has extended the public comment period from 45 to 75 days for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Air Force Maui Optical Small Telescope Advanced Research facility. The review period, previously set to expire on March 16, 2026, is now extended to April 15, 2026.

51st CES conducts Rapid Osan Airfield Recovery training

Senior Airman Rome Bowermaster — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 07:04:00 GMT

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron conducted Rapid Osan Airfield Recovery training Feb. 26-27, 2026, testing two repair methods designed to restore runway operations faster and strengthen contingency readiness at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

Yokota Airman train on 25K Halverson to strengthen cargo readiness

Yasuo Osakabe — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:57:00 GMT

Airmen assigned to the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron conducted 25K Halverson aircraft loader training at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Feb. 23–26, expanding operator qualifications and strengthening cargo deployment readiness.

Fatal drop zone survey investigation results released

Pentagon News — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:09:00 GMT

Pacific Air Forces released the results of its investigation into a drop zone survey where an U.S. Air Force officer died in Indonesia, April 22, 2024.

Connected to Win: Bamboo Eagle Strengthens Allied Decision-Making

Deb Henley, 505th Command and Control Wing Public Affairs — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 17:30:00 GMT

Exercise Bamboo Eagle 26-1, the U.S. Air Force’s premier large-scale combat exercise, commenced this week to test the very nervous system of joint and coalition airpower. The exercise is designed to stress the people, processes, and technology that link commanders to their forces, ensuring that thousands of service members can operate as a single, cohesive team while geographically dispersed and under threat.

Keeping it McCool – PACAF command chief visits Kadena Air Base

Senior Airman Jamal Berry II — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 02:29:00 GMT

Chief Master Sgt. Katie McCool, Pacific Air Forces command chief, visited Kadena Air Base, Japan to exchange perspectives, praise the efforts of exceptional Airmen, and experience the keystone of the Pacific, Jan. 22 and 23, 2026.

Stronger together: Canadians, Danes enhance interoperability through education

Airman 1st Class Theodore Gowdy — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:44:00 GMT

This year, the Elmendorf PME Center welcomed members of the Canadian and Danish armed forces as students in the NCOA course as part of class 26-A. The academy serves as the second tier of enlisted PME designed to cultivate the leadership skills of noncommissioned officers as they prepare for the next stage in their careers. This collaboration with partner nations strengthens the impact of the curriculum by integrating the experience and perspective of foreign military operatives and building meaningful relationships among future allied leaders.

Culturally guided remediation continues at Maui Space Surveillance Complex

Pentagon News — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 01:36:00 GMT

Restoration efforts continue at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex (MSSC) where a lightning strike caused an emergency generator malfunction and resulting fuel spill approximately three years ago. Remediation is currently in phases three and four of a four-phase remediation plan.

JBER debuts a PACAF-first Mission Ready Airman program

Senior Airman Hunter Hites — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:12:00 GMT

Thirty-four U.S. Air Force noncommissioned officers participated in Security Forces-focused Mission Ready Airman training Feb. 6, a first-of-its-kind program in the Pacific Air Forces that aims at increasing lethality and readiness across the force. The training, conducted at the 673d Security Forces Squadron warehouse, was integrated into the NCO Foundations 500 course and led primarily by Security Forces instructors. The initiative is a PACAF-level first and is currently unique to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

C3BM takes lead on Joint Fires Network

Richard Blumenstein — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:04:00 GMT

The Department of the Air Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management stood up an integrated program office to lead the Joint Fires Network, Oct. 1, 2025.

Department of War Participating in Singapore Airshow 2026

Pentagon News — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:57:03 GMT

The U.S. Department of War is participating in the Singapore Airshow 2026 with aerial demonstrations and static displays at Changi Exhibition Center, Republic of Singapore Feb. 3-8.

U.S., Japan refine interoperability during exercise North Wind 26

Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 05:19:00 GMT

Members of the 374th Airlift Wing integrated with U.S. Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel to execute a joint forcible entry operation during exercise North Wind 26 in Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 22, 2025. Exercise North Wind 26 is a joint and bilateral arctic field training exercise designed to strengthen winter operational capabilities and enhance interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces. Four C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron were tasked to airdrop 106 U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 11th Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade, into the Hokkaido Large-Scale Exercise Area. The operation was further integrated with jumpmasters from the JGSDF’s 1st Airborne Brigade

Under Secretary of the Air Force visits Indo-Pacific to engage with Airmen, allies

Pentagon News — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 18:11:00 GMT

Under Secretary of the Air Force Matt Lohmeier arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Jan. 24 to kick off his tour of the Pacific Air Force’s area of responsibility and meet with Airmen and Guardians throughout the region.

Fatal HH-60W mishap investigation results released

Pentagon News — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:53:41 GMT

Pacific Air Forces released the results of its investigation into an aircraft mishap in Japan, April 22, 2025, where a spectator subsequently died from related injuries.

Air Force Safety Center Announces Unit Risk Forecasting Tool

Air Force Safety Center Public Affairs — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 15:55:00 GMT

On January 14, 2026, the Air Force Safety Center announced the Unit Risk Forecasting tool would be

U.S. Forces deliver critical aid to Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah

Staff Sgt. Wren Fiontar — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 01:31:53 GMT

U.S. military forces delivered critical disaster relief to Sri Lanka following the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which made landfall on November 28.

Fatal aircraft mishap investigation results released

Pentagon News — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:26:00 GMT

Pacific Air Forces released the results of its investigation into an aircraft mishap where a U.S. Air Force Airman died in Alaska, March 15, 2024.

OCD25 wraps up: delivering holiday cheer, supplies to Pacific islands

Pentagon News — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 02:43:00 GMT

Operation Christmas Drop 2025 came to an end at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 14, 2025.This

Collaborative comms empowering warfighters

Senior Airman Melody Bordeaux — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:56:11 GMT

Stakeholders and technical experts from Pacific Air Forces and the Department of the Air Force attended a Warfighting Communications Technical Exchange Meeting (TEM) to strengthen communications capabilities across the Indo-Pacific at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on Dec. 3-5, 2025.

PACAF bids farewell to IPAFA commandant

Senior Airman Kathy Duran — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 02:21:23 GMT

The Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy, originating in 2021 from a charter for joint enlisted development, offers courses on multinational collaboration and interoperability for partners and allies across the Indo-Pacific region. Royal Australian Air Force Warrant Officer Anita Godfrey, IPAFA’s first commandant, was instrumental in IPAFA’s development from April 2024.