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)

Street Light Project

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Master Sgt. Russ Wells of 30 Civil Engineering Squadron performs electrical testing on a Light Emitting Diode lights during the testing of several lights on Oct. 23. The test was conducted to determine which street light works better to save millions of dollars in energy cost base wide. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ashley Tyler)

Street Light Project

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Master Sgt. Russ Wells of 30 Civil Engineering Squadron performs electrical testing on a Light Emitting Diode lights during the testing of several lights on Oct. 23. The test was conducted to determine which street light works better to save millions of dollars in energy cost base wide. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ashley Tyler)

LED Lights

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Master Sgt. Russell Wells, 30th Civil Engineering Squadron, inspects a Light Emitting Diode in front of the CES Operations Flight Building on Dec. 17. LED lights are being tested on Vandenberg to possibly replace current sodium vapor lamps. LED lights use three times less energy than sodium vapor lamps. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)

LED Lights

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Sodium Vapor Lamp (left) is lit next to a Light Emitting Diode light in the Civil Engineering Squadron's Operations Flight Building on Dec. 17. LED lights are being tested on Vandenberg to possibly replace current sodium vapor lamps. LED lights use three times less energy than sodium vapor lamps. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)

Breakfast with Santa

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Danny Messman, 3, enjoys a warm morning meal during Breakfast with Santa at the Pacific Coast Club on Dec. 15. Over 500 children attended the annual event hosted by the 30th Services Division. The event was free to the entire base and included a photo opportunity with Santa, breakfast, holiday arts and crafts, games, and prize give-a-ways. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Breakfast with Santa

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Deziray Warner-Joyner, 3, enjoys a warm morning meal during Breakfast with Santa at the Pacific Coast Club on Dec. 15. Over 500 children attended the annual event hosted by the 30th Services Division. The event was free to the entire base and included a photo opportunity with Santa, breakfast, holiday arts and crafts, games, and prize give-a-ways. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Breakfast with Santa

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airman 1st Class Ashley Reed, a photographer with the 30th Space Wing Public Affairs Office, helps children with arts and crafts during Breakfast with Santa at the Pacific Coast Club on Dec. 15. Over 500 children attended the annual event hosted by the 30th Services Division. The event was free to the entire base and included a photo opportunity with Santa, breakfast, holiday arts and crafts, games, and prize give-a-ways. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Breakfast with Santa

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. Benjamin Huff, 30th Mission Support Group commander, hands out gifts to children during Breakfast with Santa at the Pacific Coast Club on Dec. 15. Over 500 children attended the annual event hosted by the 30th Services Division. The event was free to the entire base and included a photo opportunity with Santa, breakfast, holiday arts and crafts, games, and prize give-a-ways. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Breakfast with Santa

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A volunteer from the Youth Center greets children during Breakfast with Santa at the Pacific Coast Club on Dec. 15. Over 500 children attended the annual event hosted by the 30th Services Division. The event was free to the entire base and included a photo opportunity with Santa, breakfast, holiday arts and crafts, games, and prize give-a-ways. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Breakfast with Santa

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Vandenberg Youth Programs Baton Twirlers get their picture taken with Santa Claus during Breakfast with Santa at the Pacific Coast Club on Dec. 15. Over 500 children attended the annual event hosted by the 30th Services Division. The event was free to the entire base and included a photo opportunity with Santa, breakfast, holiday arts and crafts, games, and prize give-a-ways. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Injured videographer returns home, greeted by dozens

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Tech. Sgt. Russell McBride helps Airman 1st Class Michael Brady claim his luggage upon his return home Dec. 18. Airman Brady, who deployed to Iraq, was performing Combat Camera support for soldiers when he was wounded in the neck by enemy fire near Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, Oct. 12. Airman Brady was awarded the Purple Heart and the Iraqi Campaign Medal from Brig. Gen. Burt Field, the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, while still in Iraq. Airman Brady was accompanied by his family and was met by a large group of friends and coworkers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Injured videographer returns home, greeted by dozens

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airman 1st Class Michael Brady answers questions from local media upon his return home Dec. 18. Airman Brady, who deployed to Iraq, was performing Combat Camera support for soldiers when he was wounded in the neck by enemy fire near Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, Oct. 12. Airman Brady was awarded the Purple Heart and the Iraqi Campaign Medal from Brig. Gen. Burt Field, the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, while still in Iraq. Airman Brady was accompanied by his family and was met by a large group of friends and coworkers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Injured videographer returns home, greeted by dozens

Airman 1st Class Michael Brady's supervisor, Staff Sgt. Justin Suddeth, explains the role of a deployed airman to local media prior to Airman Brady's return home Dec. 18. Airman Brady, who deployed to Iraq, was performing Combat Camera support for soldiers when he was wounded in the neck by enemy fire near Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, Oct. 12. Airman Brady was awarded the Purple Heart and the Iraqi Campaign Medal from Brig. Gen. Burt Field, the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, while still in Iraq. Airman Brady was accompanied by his family and was met by a large group of friends and coworkers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Injured videographer returns home, greeted by dozens

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airman 1st Class Michael Brady answers questions from local media upon his return home Dec. 18. Airman Brady, who deployed to Iraq, was performing Combat Camera support for soldiers when he was wounded in the neck by enemy fire near Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, Oct. 12. Airman Brady was awarded the Purple Heart and the Iraqi Campaign Medal from Brig. Gen. Burt Field, the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, while still in Iraq. Airman Brady was accompanied by his family and was met by a large group of friends and coworkers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

It has arrived!

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A C-17 aircraft is taxiing in before stopping to drop off the Defense Meteorological Satellites Program, (DMSP), satellite, here on Dec. 14. The DMSP satellite monitors solar-terrestrial physics and provides photographic reconnaissance and surveillance for the U.S. Department of Defense. It's a valuable tool in scheduling and protecting military operations in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ashley Tyler)

Move it in!

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Defense Meteorological Satellites Program satellite is transported into the "clean room" to be uncovered, here on Dec. 14. The DMSP satellite monitors solar-terrestrial physics and provides photographic reconnaissance and surveillance for the U.S. Department of Defense. It's a valuable tool in scheduling and protecting military operations in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ashley Tyler)

Take a look at this!

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Lockheed Martin personnel watch carefully as the Defense Meteorological Satellites Program satellite is lifted off of a flatbed truck before being uncovered, here on Dec. 14. The DMSP satellite monitors solar-terrestrial physics and provides photographic reconnaissance and surveillance for the U.S. Department of Defense. It's a valuable tool in scheduling and protecting military operations in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ashley Tyler)

Careful!

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Lockheed Martin personnel watch carefully as a flatbed truck drives off while the Defense Meteorological Satellites Program satellite is lifted before being uncovered, here on Dec. 14. The DMSP satellite monitors solar-terrestrial physics and provides photographic reconnaissance and surveillance for the U.S. Department of Defense. It's a valuable tool in scheduling and protecting military operations in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ashley Tyler)

Veteran Tours the Base

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Richard Thackston visits the P-40 display here on Nov. 30. Mr. Thackton was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot in World War II, and flew more than 30 missions over Europe. During his visit to Vandenberg, he received a U.S. presidential letter of appreciation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ashley Reed)

Veteran Tours The Base

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Richard Thackston recognizes names of Medal of Honor recipients at the Missile Heritage memorial here on Nov. 30. Mr. Thackton was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot in World War II, and flew more than 30 missions over Europe. He visitied Vandenberg to receive a U.S. presidential letter of appreciation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ashley Reed)

North Star prepares Airmen for deployment

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Staff Sgts. Jaylynd Brown and Dan Merrill (right), of the 30th Logistics Readiness Squadron, scan the area from a bunker during North Star on Dec. 13. North Star trains Airmen for real world deployed situations. (U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Christopher Hubenthal)

North Star prepares Airmen for deployment

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An Airman of the 30th Space Wing takes cover and scans his sectors of fire during the North Star exercise on Dec. 13. The exercise prepares and trains Airmen for a possible deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Ashley Reed)