Dental flight brings base youth smiles, toothbrushes

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Capt. Varun Narula, a dentist with the 30th Medical Operations Squadron here, has children demonstrate how to properly brush teeth recently. Captain Narula and other dental flight Airmen visited the Youth Center and Child Development Center as part of National Children's Dental Health Month. (Courtesy photo)

Hennessy Icebreaker

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airman 1st Class Joshua Neiner and Airman Josephine Hathcock, 30th Security Forces Squadron, guard the Hennessy Trophy Feb. 21 at the Pacific Coast Club Warrior Room. The trophy is given to the dining facility that exemplfies excellence in all facets of the dining experience. Team Vandenberg, the 2007 Hennessy Award winner, is fighting to defend its title as the best dining facility in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Olds)

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. -- 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)

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)

Ground Breaking Satellite Control Facility

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif -- An infrastructure model is displayed of a 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 networks and satellites essential to national security. The facility is expected to be completed by October, 2009. (U. S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Adam Guy)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Keep it steady!

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Lockheed Martin personnel strap steel cables to the Defense Meteorological Satellites Program satellite to be lifted off of a flatbed truck before uncovering it 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)