Travis Civic Leaders Get Taste of Space Wing Mission
By Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm, 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
/ Published July 16, 2015
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Capt. Adam Rich, 4th Space Launch Squadron Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle project officer, briefs Travis’ civic leaders and honorary commanders at Space Launch Complex-6 during a fly-away civic leader tour to Vandenberg Air Force Base July 14, 2015. The 4th SLS’ Delta IV and Atlas V launch vehicles provide the nation's sole medium/heavy lift capability to polar orbit. Insight into EELV operations enables the squadron's essential mission of providing continuous risk assessment and mission assurance for the 30th Space Wing and the Space and Missile Systems Center. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm)
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Col. Shane Clark, 30th Space Wing vice commander, gives the wings mission brief to Travis civic leaders and honorary commanders during a fly-away civic leader tour to Vandenberg Air Force Base July 14, 2015. The purpose of fly-away civic leader tours is to give community leaders an opportunity to better understand the home unit and other Air Force installations' missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm)
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Travis’ civic leaders and honorary commanders stand in front of the SpaceX facility for a group photo during a fly-away civic leader tour to Vandenberg Air Force Base July 14, 2015. SpaceX is an aerospace manufacturer and space transport service company developing reusable rocket launching systems and supports the Falcon family of commercial space launch vehicles. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm)
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Donald Prichard, 30th Space Wing Space and Missile Heritage Center curator, briefs Travis’ civic leaders and honorary commanders about Vandenberg Air Force Base history during a fly-away civic leader tour July 14, 2015. The Space and Missile Heritage Center is located at Space Launch Complex 10, Vandenberg's only National Historic Landmark and displays artifacts and memorabilia to interpret the evolution of missile and spacelift activity at Vandenberg from the beginning of the Cold War through current non-classified developments in military, commercial, and scientific space endeavors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm)
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John Carli, 301st Airlift Squadron honorary commander and Vacaville Police Department police chief (left), and Monte Hoover, 15th Air Mobility Operations Squadron honorary commander and Gillespie's Abbey Carpet & Floor president and general manager, look at memorabilia at the 30th Space Wing Space and Missile Heritage Center during a fly-away civic leader tour to Vandenberg Air Force Base July 14, 2015. The purpose of fly-away civic leader tours is to give community leaders an opportunity to better understand the home unit and other Air Force installation’s missions and provide a greater insight into the Air Force's capabilities in air, space and cyberspace by exposing key community leaders to them. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Stephen J. Collier)
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Andrea Garcia, 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron honorary commander and Touro University California director of external relations, stands near memorabilia at the 30th Space Wing Space and Missile Heritage Center during a fly-away civic leader tour to Vandenberg Air Force Base July 14, 2015. While at Vandenberg AFB, the civic leaders toured a number of rocket launch locations, visited the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket assembly building and experienced the installation's launch control facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Stephen J. Collier)
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --
More than 40 of Travis' civic leaders and honorary commanders visited and toured Vandenberg Air Force Base's facilities July 14 to learn about the mission during a fly-away civic leader tour.
The group was welcomed by 30th Space Wing leadership before heading to the Western Range Operations Control Center for a briefing on the unique mission as well as what they would see on the tour.
The first stops in the morning included briefings at Space Launch Complex-6 and the SpaceX facility.
SLC-6 is a United Launch Alliance facility for the Delta IV rocket, an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle. SpaceX is an aerospace manufacturer and space transport service company developing reusable rocket launching systems and supports the Falcon family of commercial space launch vehicles.
"I was awed by what I saw; the complexity and geographical spans of the base," said Tom Gamble, 60th Air Mobility Wing honorary commander and Gamble Family Vineyards owner and manager. "The whole thing was neat to see how everything was put into perspective, from past to present. I was honored to be asked to be an honorary commander and won't be able to stop talking about the trip. This visit was definitely worth it."
After lunch with local Vandenberg civic leaders, the group headed back to the WROCC for an in-depth tour of the facility.
The 30th SW's Western Range is the Department of Defense's West Coast Launch and Test Range system supporting polar launch, intercontinental ballistic missile testing, missile defense operation, aeronautical support, weapons system development, orbital recovery and military exercise. It extends 6,000 miles along the Pacific Ocean. Following the WROCC, the civic leaders visited the Space and Missile Heritage Center.
"This was a fantastic tour and it opened my eyes to the possibilities for young people in (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers," said Kristin Corey, 60th Force Support Squadron honorary commander and Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District superintendent. "There are so many opportunities not only in the Air Force but potential professions as well that I want to be able to promote to students."
The purpose of fly-away civic leader tours is to give community leaders an opportunity to better understand the home unit and other Air Force installation's missions.
"Every once in a while I do something cool in this job," Corey said. "Yesterday was one of those days."