Air Force Scientific Advisory Board holds spring session at Barksdale

by Carla Pampe
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

4/10/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force Dr. Mark Maybury and members of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board met at Barksdale Air Force Base April 7-10 for the Board's spring session.

"As we in the Air Force begin to take a strategic look under the guise of the National Security Strategy and the Defense Security Strategy, we are examining what it means to be a global Air Force, and certainly Barksdale and Air Force Global Strike Command have got a central role, both from a deterrence perspective as well as an assurance perspective," Maybury said.

During the visit, members of the board reviewed the mid-term results of their current studies, which will be published in December of this year. The current studies are:

• Airborne Networking and Communications for Contest Environments
• Electro-Optical /Infrared and Laser Threat Warning and Countermeasures
• Microsatellite Mission Applications

"All of the studies have aspects that tie in directly to the kinds of global strike challenges this command faces," Maybury said.

On Tuesday, the group had the opportunity to see static displays including the B-52 and A-10 to get an up-close look at the Global Strike Command mission. In addition, members of the board toured B-52 weapons systems trainers. Maybury said the board was very pleased that the Command was able to host their visit.

He added that he enjoyed the opportunity to visit Barksdale again.

"I always learn something new when I visit," he said. "The last time I visited Global Strike, I actually got to go up and fly with a B-52 team. It was a two-ship training mission for a troops-in-contact type of environment, as well as air refueling."

Maybury said he was impressed with the professionalism and focus of the Airmen at Barksdale.

"I really do appreciate what the total force here does," he said. "The officers, the enlisted, the Active-Reserve, the Guard components and the civilians are providing critical capability to secure our nation and assure our international partners."

The SAB is a Federal Advisory Committee, currently chaired by Dr. Eliahu Neiwood, that provides independent advice on matters of science and technology relating to the Air Force mission, reporting directly to the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force. More information on the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and their current studies can be found at http://www.sab.af.mil/.