LNOs provide critical link to PACOM deployments

  • Published
  • By Capt. Ashley Conner
  • PACAF Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  When the 525th Fighter Squadron deployed 15 F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, to Kadena Air Base, Japan, Maj. Brian Urban, 525th FS F-22 pilot, was the first to arrive at the 613th Air Operations Center in Hawaii as the squadron's liaison officer.

The LNO serves as a critical link between the fighters and bombers deployed throughout the Western Pacific in support the U.S. Pacific Command's Theater Security Packages and the planners in Hawaii.

"I worked as a liaison between the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 613th AOC, 13th Air Force, and PACAF," said the major. "I helped coordinate assets to ensure a safe and timely deployment to the area of responsibility, established a critical communications link between the flying operations and the units at Hickam and paved the way for future F-22 movements throughout the PACAF AOR."

The fighter and bomber LNOs are assigned to the Master Air Attack Planning cell in the AOC and are the tactical experts on the capabilities of their respective airframes.

"Having an LNO in the AOC is a critical function that facilitates a successful deployment," said Urban. "The LNO helps educate the mission planners who work in the AOC and ensures that their expectations match our real-world capabilities."

Bombers have had a continuous presence in the Pacific since 2004. Capt. Aaron Hedrick assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron and the current bomber LNO, echoed similar sentiments.

"[As the bomber LNO] I provide updates to the MAAP cell on what the deployed bomber squadron is doing at Andersen," said Hedrick. "I also have the job of coordinating airspace and tankers for the pilots on the island to execute on."

The 69th Bomb Squadron from Minot AFB, N.D. deployed to Andersen AB, Guam in November 2010.

In the event a conflict in the Pacific broke out, the LNOs would be fully involved in the daily production of the air tasking order, verifying that taskings match current capabilities and would act as the critical link between the pilots flying combat missions and the commanders managing the war.

The fighter and bomber presence in the Pacific is not a response to any specific situation but is a part of the PACOM commander's continuing force posture to address worldwide requirements.