Team V Airmen support JTF-Burnt Frost

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Maj. Santos Munoz, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, and other Vandenberg leadership, give farewells to Airmen boarding a C-5 Galaxy headed to McGuire AFB, N.J., on Feb. 15. Thirty-six Airmen from the 30th Space Wing were deployed in support of Joint Task Force-Burnt Frost recently. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)

Team V Airmen support JTF-Burnt Frost

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A loadmaster from the 22nd Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif., runs past a Vandenberg Emergency Response Vehicle aboard a C-5 Galaxy on Feb. 15. Thirty-six Airmen from the 30th Space Wing were deployed in support of Joint Task Force-Burnt Frost recently. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)

Services defends Hennessy trophy

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Ramon Enciso, a LOVARC employee, stocks the freezer at Breakers Dining Facility on Feb. 14. The John L. Hennessy Award team will visit here Feb. 22-25. The Hennessy trophy is the highest Air Force award given for excellence in food service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)

Services defends Hennessy trophy

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Tech. Sgt. John Thiel, 14th Air Force, is served by Lori Zirkle, a LOVARC employee, at Breakers Dining Facility on Feb. 14. The John L. Hennessy Award team will visit here Feb. 22-25. The Hennessy trophy is the highest Air Force award given for excellence in food service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)

Annual Awards

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Master Sgt. Steven Colon, 576 Flight Test Squadron, receives a certificate as an annual award nominee from Col. Steve Tanous and Command Chief Master Sgt. Cari Kent during the Annual Awards ceremony on Feb. 1, at the Pacific Coast Club. Master Sgt. Colon was nominated for First Sergeant of the Year, representing the 595th Space Group. The awards ceremony was held to honor the annual award winners from Vandenberg's associate units, the 30 space wing, and the overall winners for the base, more commonly known as Team Vandenberg. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

Annual Awards

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Capt. Niklaus Pleisch, a 30th Comptroller Squadron, receives a certificate as an annual award nominee from Col. Steve Tanous and Command Chief Master Sgt. Cari Kent during the Annual Awards ceremony on Feb. 1, at the Pacific Coast Club. Capt. Pleisch was nominated for Company Grade Officer of the Year, representing the 30th Space Wing-Wing Staff Agency. The awards ceremony was held to honor the annual award winners from Vandenberg's associate units, the 30 space wing, and the overall winners for the base, more commonly known as Team Vandenberg. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

Blood Drive

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Janel Stewart, a donor care specialist with United Blood Services, prepares blood bags on Feb. 6. Forty-three people volunteered to donate a pint of blood to the United Blood Services. The blood is used to treat patients in such instances as open heart surgery, hip replacement, women giving birth, and cancer patients. United Blood Services Central Coast covers Ventura to Salinas and must acquire a minimum of 275 units a day to operate effectively. (U.S Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Stephanie Longoria)

A fork in the road

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Senior Airman Trey Lewis, a photographer with 30th Space Wing Public Affairs Office, revisits the events leading up to his Driving Under the Influence charge. Airman Lewis lived a life of partying and was arrested for a DUI charge in May 2005 in San Luis Obispo, Calif. However, Airman Lewis has used his experience as a turning point in his life. He has devoted his new life to helping others. ( U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Russell McBride)

Civil Engineer Operations Flight Keeps Water on Tap

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Staff Sgt. Cedric Morris, a utilities systems specialist with the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron, uses a pipe cutter on Jan. 31. Pipe cutters are often a faster and more convenient way of cutting pipe than using a hacksaw because they produce a clean cut. The 30th CES mission is to take care of each other while delivering superior Civil Engineering services to their customers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

21st SOPS moves to Vandenberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif -- Mr. Mitch Tharaldson, RQ Construction, Col. Stephen Tanous, 30th Space Wing Commander, Lt. Col. Sam MCneal, 21st Space Operations Commander, and Lt. Col. Martha Kiene, Army Corps of Engineers, break ground to kick off the construction phase of the new Satellite Control Facility on Jan. 23. The new facility finds its home at Vandenberg due to the close of Onizuka Air Force Base in Sunnyvale, California where the 21st Space Operations Squadron resides. The new infrastructure will house command and control instruments as well as satellite operators to support the space mission. These operations include missile warning systems, meteorological data, NASA launch and re-entry missions, and intelligence related projects. As many as 500 operations a day can take place using antennas around the world to link to network and satellites which is essential to National Security. (U. S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Adam Guy)

LRS Airman receives Bronze Star

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Tech Sgt. Fredrick Garcia (right), a 30th Logistics Readiness Squadron dispatch operations NCOIC stands with Tech Sgt. Raul Molina, a 30th LRS dispatch support NCOIC, during a deployment to Iraq. Sergeant Garcia received a bronze star for his leadership as convoy commander in Iraq where he and his team drove a combined distance of 578,000 miles.(Air Force Photo)

Competitors Chosen for Guardian Challenge

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Capt. Jon Krepsky, a 30th Operations Support Squadron mission control flight officer, initiates explosive ordnance on board a rocket with a key turn switch during a training scenario on Jan. 14. Mission flight control officers are responsible for all flight control activities including launch preparation, pre-flight test and evaluations and flight control from liftoff to end of mission. The scenario is the deciding factor on who is selected to be on the elite 30th Space Wing Guardian Challenge Team. Air Force Space Command hails GC as the only space war fighter competition in the Air Force. The competition pits the "best of the best" space war fighters against each other, determining the top space wing teams in the Air Force. The event captures the essence of competition through rigorous evaluation and increases the overall capabilities of operations teams to perform their missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Competitors Chosen for Guardian Challenge

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Senior Airman Jillian Voyles, a 2nd Range Operations Squadron aerospace control officer, uses a secure line to make a phone call during a training scenario on Jan. 14. Aerospace control officers ensure launch hazard areas are clear of boats, trains, aircraft, and personnel on oil rigs during launch operations. The scenario is the deciding factor on who is selected to be on the elite 30th Space Wing Guardian Challenge Team. Air Force Space Command hails GC as the only space war fighter competition in the Air Force. The competition pits the "best of the best" space war fighters against each other, determining the top space wing teams in the Air Force. The event captures the essence of competition through rigorous evaluation and increases the overall capabilities of operations teams to perform their missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Competitors Chosen for Guardian Challenge

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Senior Airman Jillian Voyles, a 2nd Range Operations Squadron aerospace control officer, writes in a range operations manual while speaking on the phone during a training scenario on Jan. 14. Aerospace control officers ensure launch hazard areas are clear of boats, trains, aircraft, and personnel on oil rigs during launch operations. The scenario is the deciding factor on who is selected to be on the elite 30th Space Wing Guardian Challenge Team. Air Force Space Command hails GC as the only space war fighter competition in the Air Force. The competition pits the "best of the best" space war fighters against each other, determining the top space wing teams in the Air Force. The event captures the essence of competition through rigorous evaluation and increases the overall capabilities of operations teams to perform their missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Construction begins on fitness center

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Members of the base fitness center pose at the site of the new base fitness center on Jan. 16. The new base fitness center is slated to open sometime in the spring of 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo / A1C Christopher Hubenthal)

Gen. Kehler visits Vandeberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, CALIF. -- Gen. Robert Kehler, Air Force Space Command commander listens to a brief regarding the unmanned aerial vehicle "Raven" given by Lt. Col. Patrick Donley 30th Security Force's commander during a Raven demonstration here Jan. 08. This was one of many visits General Kehler made during his one day stay at Vandenberg where he also met with base leadership and addressed questions concerning the future of the Air Force's mission and the future of Air Force Space Command. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Plew)

1977 Wildland Fire Memorial

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --Velma McCauley is presented flowers during the 30th Anniversary Memorial Service of the Wildland Fire in front of Fire Station 2 on Dec. 21. Velma lost her husband, Clarence McCauley, a bulldozer operator, during the Wildland Fire. The memorial was held to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 1977 Wildland Fire here on Vandenberg AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)

1977 Wildland Fire Memorial

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Chief Mark Farias, 30th Civil Engineering Squadron, gives the memorial message during the 30th Anniversary Memorial Service of the Wildland Fire in front of Fire Station 2 on Dec. 21. The memorial was held to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 1977 Wildland Fire here on Vandenberg AFB. Four Air Force members gave their lives during the fire. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)

Seat Belt Check

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. Steve Tanous, 30th Space Wing Commander, conducts seat belt checks and holiday greetings at the Santa Maria Gate on Dec. 20. Col. Tanous, along with Col. Andre Lovett, 30th Operations Group Commander, and Tech. Sgt. Thomas Weaver, 30th Space Wing Safety, are inspecting Vandenberg motorist to promote safety over the holidays. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)

Mechanics in 30th LRS keep vehicles ready, rolling

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airman 1st Class Charles Glenn, an auto mechanic with the 30th Logistics Readiness Squadron, performs routine maintenance on a vehicle on Dec. 6. 30th LRS combines planning, supply and transportation skills into one organization with all resources to keep pace with the swift demands of deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

LRS/Vehicle Maintenance

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Staff Sgt. Francisco Avila, 30th Logistics Readiness Squadron, checks for leaks on a fire engine on Dec. 5. Sergeant Avila conducts scheduled maintenance on some of Vandenberg's emergency vehicles. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)

LRS/Vehicle Maintenance

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Staff Sgt. Jason Walters, 30th Logistics Readiness Squadron, changes a tire on a fire engine on Dec. 5. Sergeant Walters recently returned from convoy duty in Iraq while stationed at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)

Seat Belt Check

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. Steve Tanous, 30th Space Wing commander, conducts seat belt checks and holiday greetings at the Santa Maria Gate on Dec. 20. Col. Tanous, along with Col. Andre Lovett, 30th Operations Group Commander, and Tech. Sgt. Thomas Weaver, 30th Space Wing Safety, inspected Vandenberg motorists to promote safety over the holidays. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)

Seat Belt Check

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. Andre Lovett, 30th Operations Group commander, conducts seat belt checks and gives holiday greetings at the Santa Maria Gate on Dec. 20. Col Lovett, along with Col. Steve Tanous, 30th Space Wing commander, and Tech. Sgt. Thomas Weaver, 30th Space Wing Safety, inspected Vandenberg motorists to promote safety over the holidays. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)