705th CTS captures three awards in April

  • Published
  • By Noel Getlin
  • 505th Command and Control Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  During April, the 705th Combat Training Squadron and its Airmen garnered one Air Force-level award and two command-level awards.

705th CTS earns third modeling and simulation training award

The 705th Combat Training Squadron was awarded the Air Force Modeling and Simulation Training Award for 2009 on April 19 in Orlando, Fla.

It is the third modeling and simulation award for the squadron, which oversees the Distributed Mission Operations Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

Lt. Col. Daniel Pepper, 705th CTS commander, said several events contributed to earning the award, including the first-ever Coalition Virtual Flag, which employed live, virtual and constructive simulations to train four nations simultaneously at 23 locations. In doing so, they integrated coalition systems without compromising security and cemented joint and allied Distributed Mission Operations future training.

"Coalition Virtual Flag was monumental," Colonel Pepper said. "It was the realization of a 10-year vision that began with Gen. John Jumper to integrate joint and coalition warfighter training."

The 505th Command and Control Wing Commander, Col. Edward McKinzie, said the Air Force-level award proves the squadron is doing a great job advancing operational command and control for the warfighter.

"Their success in executing the first ever Coalition Virtual Flag, along with all of their efforts in developing one-of-a-kind distributed mission operations, or DMO, capabilities like digital close-air support, a Predator trainer, an integrated distributed common ground system, and a fully replicated air coordination ops center are but a few examples of how they continue to advance what can be done with DMO," Colonel McKinzie said.

ACC names lieutenant 705th CTS Junior Military Scientist of the Year

First Lt. Chris Costello, 705th Combat Training Squadron, was recently named Air Combat Command's Outstanding Scientist/Engineer of the Year for 2009 in the junior military category.

Lieutenant Costello led the largest Congressionally-mandated missile defense experiment, analyzing testing of assets valued at more than $300 million, and supported the U.S. Air Force Weapons School by validating dynamic targeting techniques, tactics and procedures, among many other accomplishments this past year.

"Lieutenant Costello was involved in developing network architecture and network security for Coalition Virtual Flag," said Lt. Col. Daniel Pepper, 705th Combat Training Squadron commander. "It was a monumental task that took 16 months of preparation."

He also integrated 24 sites around the world and led Northern Edge integration tests, enabling the largest Department of Defense live-vrtual-constructive exercise to date.

Airman named ACC Outstanding NCO of the Year

Air Combat Command named Tech. Sgt. Darrell DeMotta Outstanding Noncommissioned Officer of the Year during the ACC Airmen of the Year banquet April 21 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

Sergeant DeMotta is the NCOIC of tactical air control party operations at the 705th Combat Training Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.

Lt. Col. Daniel Pepper, 705th CTS commander, said Sergeant DeMotta deserves the recognition 100 percent, crediting him with using his experience in the field to develop modeling and simulation training for Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, or JTACs.

"He is pretty much responsible for implementing the digital (close air support) system at the distributed mission operations center," Colonel Pepper said. "He led the effort to secure the equipment we needed, was an advocate for funding and participated in a couple of conferences on JTAC training. He's a standout amongst his peers, leading the way to provide the best in warfighter training."

Sergeant DeMotta will go on to represent the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and ACC at the Air Force-level.