Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 421

Mission: To identify, exploit and neutralize criminal, terrorist and intelligence threats to the Air Force, Defense Department and U.S. government

Demographics: There are 2,029 federally credentialed special agents, 311 active-duty officers, 1,253 active-duty enlisted personnel, 785 civilians and 389 reservists

History: AFOSI was founded Aug. 1, 1948, at the suggestion of congress to consolidate investigative activities in the U.S. Air Force. Secretary of the Air Force W. Stuart Symington created AFOSI and patterned it after the FBI. He appointed Special Agent Joseph Carroll, an assistant to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, as the first AFOSI commander and charged him with providing independent, unbiased and centrally directed investigations of criminal activity in the Air Force.

Detachment 1, Air Combat Command Training Support Squadron

Mission: HQ ACC TRSS is an ACC/A3 below-the-line squadron, consisting of a headquarters and 12 geographically separated detachments determined by aircraft and weapon system supported  Det. 1’s mission is to provide and maintain top quality training products to help train the world’s greatest Combat Air Force to kill targets and return safely

Demographics: There are 17 civil servants, no military

Director: John Torrence

Responsibilities: Sole trainer fabrication organization within ACC that designs, builds and maintains aircrew training devices for operational units across the CAF. Det. 1 also builds and maintains the U.S. Air Force’s Hypoxia Familiarization Trainers, range targets, briefing aids and cockpit resource trainers.

Fun facts: Det. 1 civil servants perform on site aircrew training device maintenance and upgrades throughout U.S. Air Force Europe, Pacific Air Force, Central Command, and all contiguous locations to include ACC gained Air Guard and Air Reserve units. Det. 1 technicians have custom-built U-2, B-52, F-15E and B-1 egress trainers. Det. 1 is currently involved in producing realistic sensor integration targets for all fifth generation Air Force assets including the F-35 Lightning II.

944th Fighter Wing

Mission: Train and provide combat-ready Airmen; Mission – Airmen – Family

Vision: The 944th Fighter Wing will provide premier integrated Airmen to support and defend our nation.

Demographics: The wing has an authorized strength of 1,466 personnel; of the assigned personnel, about 252 are full-time Air Reserve technicians who provide continuity between weekend training periods

Leadership

Commander: Col. Kurt Gallegos

Vice commander: Col. Robert Whitehouse

Command chief: Chief Master Sgt. Rhonda Hutson

Responsibilities: Train F-35, F-16, F-15 and A-10 pilots, and all assigned reservists to provide combat-ready warriors in support of Air Force mission requirements.

Fun fact: There is a Reserve presence in every active-duty squadron on Luke Air Force Base.

Detachment 9, Air Combat Command Training Support Squadron

Mission: HQ ACC TRSS is an ACC/A3 below-the-line squadron, consisting of a headquarters and 12 geographically separated detachments determined by aircraft and weapon system supported

Det. 9’s mission is to design, develop, maintain and support training solutions for the control and reporting center initial qualification training program community

Demographics: There are nine active-duty members, four contractors and one civilian

Leadership

Director: John Torrence

Director of operations: David Fitzmaurice

Superintendent: Master Sgt. Kevin Spainhoward

Responsibilities: Det. 9 designs, develops, maintains, reviews and distributes training solutions for Air Control Squadron’s Combined Reporting Center. Det. 9 also provides quality control of all contract deliverables as well as administers the CRC graduate evaluation program, obtaining timely feedback from recently qualified operators and technicians. Det. 9 supplies 13 syllabi and more than 120 courseware modules to over 15 units across the Combat Air Forces world-wide, to include customers in U.S. Air Forces Europe, Pacific Air Force and North American Defense Command. Working closely with Air Education and Training Command’s 607th Air Control Squadron schoolhouse, Det. 9 facilitates the training of 200-plus active-duty and Air National Guard graduates per year. As a result of Det. 9 developed courseware, the Combat Air Force is equipped with qualified and deployable graduates, best prepared for the critical combat missions of controlling air battles, directing theater air traffic, and conducting special operations.

In 2011, Det. 9 moved from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, to better coordinate with the 607th ACS.

Fun Fact: On Oct. 1, 2017, Det. 9 will absorb all of its sister Det. 1’s functions and personnel.

Detachment 12, 372nd Training Squadron

Mission: The unit provides F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35 Lightning II aircraft maintenance training to hundreds of maintainers from the 56th Fighter Wing and personnel en route to locations worldwide; provides training to Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units as well as numerous international students; Det. 12 instructors also deploy in mobile training teams to help units in virtually every major command and foreign Air Forces to fulfill their training requirements

Demographics: Activated in 1962, Det. 12 is the largest fighter aircraft field training detachment in the U.S. Air Force; with instructional hours totaling more than 19,000 a year, the 41 members of the unit offer 50 courses of instruction designed to educate, motivate and inspire nearly 1,000 students annually

Responsibilities: The unit maintains seven aircraft maintenance trainers and first-class training facilities totaling 64,000 square feet and valued at $143.9 million. The staff uses state-of-the-art computer technology to enhance course presentations and maximize student learning. The unit’s commitment is to be on the leading edge of technology to offer the very best education to those attending courses.

Leadership

Squadron commander: Lt. Col. Kenneth Shinn

Detachment commander: Capt. Matthew Avila

Detachment chief: Master Sgt. Gabriel Sistrunk

Fun facts: One of the courses the unit provides includes the Mission Ready Airman program, an Air Force specialty code awarding course. This course trains pipeline students from technical school on how to become an F-35 tactical aircraft maintenance specialist. Instructors, along with military training leaders, began training this course in June 2016.

Navy Operational Support Center Phoenix

Mission: Provide strategic depth and deliver operational capabilities to our Navy and Marine Corps team and joint forces, from peace to war

Demographics: There are three active-duty officers, 22 active-duty enlisted, three U.S. government employees, 100 Reserve officers and 550 Reserve enlisted

Leadership

Commanding officer: Cmdr. Mark Tripiano

Executive officer: Lt. Cmdr. Robin Lemon-Soape

Command senior chief: Senior Chief Petty Officer Jerry Dotson

Responsibilities: Provide full-time training, administration and readiness support to 650 Navy Reserve personnel in 15 units.

Fun facts: NOSC Phoenix has the Navy’s first LEED Platinum (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified building.

U.S. Marine Corps Bulk Fuel Company C

Mission: Provide general support and engineering support of a deliberate nature to the Marine Expeditionary Force, to include survivability, counter-mobility and mobility enhancements; and general supply support incident to the handling, storage and distribution of water and fuel

Demographics: There are 11 officers, 406 enlisted and one enlisted Sailor

Leadership

Inspector-instructor: Capt. Michael Vaughn and
1st Sgt. Benjamin Suter

Bulk Fuel Company C: Capt. Carter King and 1st Sgt. Jose Carpio

Responsibilities: Bulk fuel

Company C supplies, handles, stores and distributes water and fuel during peacetime and wartime operations; instructor-inspector staff provides guidance and oversight for Reserve counterparts.

Fun facts: Bulk Fuel Company C is the largest drilling Reserve company in the Marine Corps.