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  • AFTAC hosts scouts for merit badge event

    On a sunny Saturday morning here on Florida’s Space Coast, 91 Scouts and Trailblazers descended on Patrick SFB to earn the Nuclear Science Merit Badge with the help of members of the Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC). The annual event, hosted by members of AFTAC’s Radiochemistry Lab,

  • COMACC, Command Chief immerse into AFTAC mission

    For the first time since taking charge of Air Combat Command in February, ACC’s top general and enlisted leader traveled to Florida to visit the Air Force Technical Applications Center Dec. 5. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, ACC commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Dave Wolfe, ACC command chief, toured the

  • 39-year-old Airman with doctorate arrives at AFTAC

    In October 2022, however, Flight 039 from Squadron 433 had a particularly unusual trainee report for BMT:  a 39-year-old former college professor with a Ph.D. in Kinesiology. Trainee Ryan Miskowiec reported for duty after temporarily saying goodbye to his wife and four children who remained in Baton

  • Breaking Ground for Fallen Airmen

    Since 1947, the mission of long range detection has been the responsibility of what is now known as the Air Force Technical Applications Center, and over the course of those 75 years, 81 Airmen – civilian and military alike – have died while in active government service. AFTAC alumni are leading a

  • CTBTO Executive Secretary visits AFTAC

    The executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization visited the Air Force Technical Applications Center Oct. 25 to learn more about the intricate and important partnership the two agencies share.

  • Florida nuke experts witness payload launch into orbit

    Scientists and engineers from the Air Force Technical Applications Center had the rare opportunity to see the realization of their work aboard the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program Satellite 6, or STPSat-6, and witness the fruits of their labor hurtle into the atmosphere from Space Launch

  • Tiny home, huge dividends

    It is only 400 square feet of living, eating, sleeping, dressing, bathing, and recreational space for two adults and a child. It is also the place the Inniss family proudly calls home.

  • The science of mind and body: A successful combination for one Airman

    When Dalton McIntire was a freshman in high school, he spent a lot of time lifting weights in his school’s gym. For him, it was a way to increase stamina, strengthen his workout routine, and further build on his abilities on the baseball field. It wasn’t until about four years ago after he enlisted

  • AFTAC uses technology to execute Change of Command

    The Air Force Technical Applications Center here underwent a change of command, employing modern-day technology to accomplish long-standing traditions. Col. Chad Hartman relinquished command to Col. Katharine Barber as 16th Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh served as the presiding officer

  • COMACC joins AFTAC Airmen in online training session

    The commander of Air Combat Command carved out 30 minutes on his tight schedule May 13 to dial in to a virtual training class hosted by members of the 22nd Surveillance Squadron here. Gen. Mike Holmes participated in the webchat with 47 Airmen from the Air Force Technical Applications Center to

  • Arguing Artificial Intelligence during pandemic becomes a reality

    Dr. Josh Dickey has been assigned to the Air Force Technical Applications Center here since June 2007, working as an electrical engineer in the Systems Engineering Division. His primary responsibilities centered around the sustainment of AFTAC’s worldwide geophysical sensor network.

  • Pandemic can’t stop AFTAC’s innovative Airmen

    As cleaning and disinfecting supplies rapidly disappeared from store shelves and warehouse stockrooms, demand far outweighed the availability of these products to protect against COVID-19. The Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick AFB, Fla., was no different. So what does the

  • Vital treaty monitoring mission continues in wake of COVID-19 response

    Since the initial outbreak of the coronavirus in the U.S., Col. Chad Hartman and his leadership team, headquartered at Patrick AFB, Fla., have been taking diligent steps to provide uninterrupted access to critical scientific data used by national decision makers regarding nuclear activity across the

  • 557th WW integrating with 16th AF missions

    The 557th Weather Wing is working to integrate its strengths into the recently formed 16th Air Force, which brought intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, cyber, electronic warfare, information operations and weather all under one roof. Integration is a key theme for the Air Force’s first

  • New 16th AF commander, command chief immerse into AFTAC mission

    The new 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) commander visited the Air Force Technical Applications Center Dec. 16 to get an up-close look at how the nuclear treaty monitoring center plays a critical role in the Numbered Air Force’s overarching intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, cyber and

  • VCSAF meets with nuclear scientists, engineers about future operations

    Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen W. “Seve” Wilson paid a visit to the Air Force Technical Applications Center here Dec. 4 to meet with nuclear scientists and engineers about their role in global nuclear deterrence and nonproliferation. The purpose of the visit was to give the visiting Air

  • Local ’16 valedictorian recruited by AFTAC as nuclear data analyst

    Through the Palace Acquire Program, the Air Force Technical Applications Center here recruited a recent University of South Florida undergraduate to work as a nuclear data analyst in the center’s Ciambrone Radiochemistry Laboratory. Victoria Scira joined the AFTAC team in June 2019 after graduating

  • International, technical partnership continues to flourish

    Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission executive secretary, Dr. Lassina Zerbo, traveled from his headquarters in Vienna to meet with Air Force Technical Applications Center commander, Col. Chad Hartman, in Florida July 25 to discuss modernization of the National

  • From Uzbekistan to America: One Airman's Tale

    Bukhara is a centuries-old, culturally-rich city in the Asian country of Uzbekistan. Located on the historic Silk Road (a network of ancient trade routes that connected the East to the West), it has long been an epicenter of exports, scholarship, language and religion.

  • AFTAC Hockey defeats nationally-ranked Miami Hurricanes

    In a stunning victory against a nationally-ranked Division 3 hockey club, the Air Force Technical Applications Center hockey team defeated the Miami Hurricanes Feb. 23 at Pembroke Pines Ice Arena, Miami’s home rink.

  • USAF Spark Tank finalists, winner visit AFTAC

    Finalists from the 2019 Air Force Spark Tank competition visited the Air Force Technical Applications Center here March 1 to meet with members of the center’s Innovation Lab and observe how failure has led to success for the nuclear treaty monitoring organization.

  • Nuclear air sampling aircraft on display at Patrick AFB

    The aircraft that performs atmospheric sampling for the Air Force Technical Applications Center was on display for invited guests to get a glimpse into how AFTAC personnel perform their nuclear treaty monitoring mission. Based out of Offutt AFB, Neb., the WC-135 Constant Phoenix routinely conducts

  • A1C with Ph.D. lands job at nuclear treaty monitoring center

    It’s not often you see those three-letter titles – A1C and Ph.D. – used to refer to the same person. As a matter of fact, only one-hundredth of one percent of the Air Force’s enlisted force from E-1 through E-9 possess a doctor of philosophy degree – that’s just 33 Airmen out of 259,190 currently

  • COMMENTARY: Our Cardboard Christmas Tree

    Holidays are tough for me. I used to love Thanksgiving and Christmas, but some difficult times fell upon my family and I found myself separated from the joy I once knew. Maybe you find this season difficult as well, or maybe you are a sucker for Hallmark-esque Christmas tearjerkers like me my wife.

  • COMMENTARY: Leadership in a Selfie Culture

    Almost everywhere you look on a military installation, you see photos of the chain of command proudly displayed on the walls. These men and women are seen as leaders within the profession of arms. But what can you really tell from their portrait? And, what should the portrait of a leader look like?

  • Air Force Chief Scientist pays visit to treaty monitoring center

    The Chief Scientist of the Air Force paid a visit to the Department of Defense’s sole nuclear treaty monitoring center recently to meet with senior leaders and attend the center’s annual Research and Development Roadmap Forum. Dr. Richard J. Joseph was one of 169 mission partners and community

  • eFAILution Wall: Failure + Learning = Successful Evolution

    In 2013, AFTAC formed an Innovation Lab to find ways to improve and accomplish their mission by developing concepts and technologies faster and cheaper. But the number one reason for establishing the lab was to enable innovators within the center to take calculated risks and evolve from failure to

  • Breaking the STEM mold, one woman at a time

    In 1976, esteemed historian and author Laurel Thatcher Ulrich wrote a book entitled, “Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History.” The premise of her work was to shine a light on famous women throughout history who challenged the way things were done. While the title may seem to be a modern-day rallying

  • Cop for a Day: AFTAC Airmen learn role of base Security Forces

    Members of the Air Force Technical Applications Center here spent a day with Airmen of the 45th Security Forces Squadron to learn more about the law enforcement officers who patrol and protect the installation and its most critical resource: the people.Eighteen military and civilian personnel of

  • Not just a buzzword; AFTAC showcases innovation to ISR community

    Thirty-five Airmen from across the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance enterprise converged at the Air Force Technical Applications Center here recently to get a first-hand view of how the nuclear treaty monitoring center applies innovation techniques to its worldwide mission.

  • 24/7 treaty monitoring center ready for contingency ops

    Recently, the nuclear treaty monitoring center here transferred its Contingency of Operations (COOP) and the Alternate U.S. National Data Center location from San Antonio, Texas to Millington, Tenn. For the past five years, AFTAC’s alternate site was located at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, in

  • Reorganization brings structure, leadership to treaty monitoring center

    The Air Force Technical Applications Center here successfully completed its reorganization April 9-13 after more than five years of planning “Historically, AFTAC has been structured around mission areas – techniques to gather information with mission area managers who were experts in their

  • DoD’s sole nuclear surveillance unit undergoes organizational change

    The Air Force Technical Applications Center, the sole agency in the Department of Defense that conducts global nuclear surveillance, underwent a full-scale organizational change April 1 to better align the center’s vital capabilities to improve mission effectiveness.The reorganization, which was

  • With help from Airmen, Boy Scouts earn prestigious merit badge

    Nearly 100 Boy Scouts from 25 troops across Central Florida traveled to Patrick AFB March 31 to earn the much-sought-after Nuclear Science Merit Badge with the help of Airmen from the Air Force Technical Applications Center here.AFTAC, the Department of Defense’s sole nuclear treaty monitoring

  • Grass does not grow under this octogenarian’s feet

    With 82-plus years under his belt, a long and storied career with the federal government, and elbows that have rubbed with the likes of astronauts, diplomats, presidential appointees and renowned international scientists alike, one would think he’d have slowed down by now.One would think. But that’s

  • AFTAC Hockey Team receives special Congressional recognition

    Before the anthem was sung and the puck dropped at center ice, Airmen from the Air Force Technical Applications Center hockey team were recognized by a member of Congress for their charitable fundraising efforts at a game versus Florida Institute of Technology March 24.Rob Medina, Director of

  • SecAF briefed on AFTAC role in nuclear explosions

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson visited the Department of Defense’s sole nuclear treaty monitoring center Feb. 8, 2018 to get a first-hand glimpse into the role the center plays in worldwide nuclear event detection.The Air Force Technical Applications Center hosted Wilson while she was in

  • Holmes, Batten pay first visit to nuclear treaty monitoring center

    The commander of Air Combat Command paid his first visit to the Department of Defense’s sole nuclear treaty monitoring center recently to meet the Airmen responsible for providing forensic-level scientific data to support ACC and national decision makers.Gen. Mike Holmes, accompanied by his command

  • Airmen travel to Earth’s southernmost point for annual maintenance

    With 24 hours of daily sunlight in their favor, a team of seismic technicians traveled to the southernmost point on Earth to conduct annual maintenance of the equipment they use to monitor global nuclear treaties.Six members of the Air Force Technical Applications Center made the trek from their

  • Air Force scientist qualifies for Ironman World Championship

    By day, he’s a nuclear engineer conducting forensics on radioactive sources. But when the duty day is complete, he trades in his proverbial white lab coat for a pair of running shoes, climbs aboard his Scott Plasma 10 bicycle, and prepares for the race of a lifetime.First Lt. Carl Eichert, a special

  • AFTAC Airmen selected for Air Force STEM awards

    The winners of the 2017 Air Force Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Awards were recently announced and the Air Force Technical Applications Center had an exceptional presence among the winners. Of the fourteen packages Air Combat Command submitted for this year’s awards, seven winners

  • Double take: Brothers’ bond extends far beyond twin upbringing

    It is well known that twins share a unique bond that transcends other sibling relationships. It’s common for twins to live, work and recreate within close proximity to each other throughout their lives.But for one pair of Air Force twins, they’ve taken that commonality several steps further.Staff

  • AFTAC civilian, Army Reservist selected for promotion to brigadier general

    A member of the Air Force Technical Applications Center here was recently promoted Nov. 1 to brigadier general in the U.S. Army.Brig. Gen. Donald B. Absher, a civilian physical scientist for AFTAC’s Materials Technology Directorate, was selected for promotion in the Army Reserve, where he has served

  • Future of ISR is Airmen

    Brig. Gen. James Cluff, vice commander, 25th Air Force, along with Brig. Gen. Peter Lambert, director of intelligence, Air Combat Command, discussed the future of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance during a panel discussion Nov. 15 at the annual Armed Forces Communications and Electronics

  • AFTAC Airmen haul in annual STEM hardware

    Six Airmen from the Air Force Technical Applications Center here earned Air Combat Command accolades for their accomplishments in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.The winners, all of whom are assigned to AFTAC’s Technology Coordination Office (TC), learned of their selection

  • Persistent surveillance gives squadron its global purpose

    Deep within the walls of a four story structure along Florida’s Space Coast sits a squadron of Airmen whose number one mission is to detect, identify and locate nuclear explosions anywhere in the world.The Technical Surveillance Squadron, a subordinate unit to the Air Force Technical Applications

  • WC-135 Constant Phoenix visits Patrick AFB

    One of the Air Force’s most intriguing aircraft was on display here Feb. 14 to give members of the Air Force Technical Applications Center a chance to get a glimpse of its inner-workings.The WC-135 Constant Phoenix, AFTAC’s atmospheric sampling platform, flew from its home base, Offutt AFB, Neb.,

  • Boy Scouts earn merit badge with help from AFTAC Airmen

    Boy Scouts from across Brevard County traveled here Oct. 22 to earn their Nuclear Science Merit Badge with the help of Airmen from the Air Force Technical Applications Center.Eleven troops, 52 young men and 21 scoutmasters and leaders came to Patrick AFB early Saturday morning for a full day of

  • Despite storm threat, treaty monitoring mission continued, uninterrupted

    AFTAC, the Department of Defense’s sole organization dedicated to nuclear treaty monitoring and nuclear event detection, marshaled its contingency operations team Oct. 4 to deploy to its alternate operating facility in Texas. Our national decision makers rely on us and our ability to provide

  • AFTAC CGOC awards scholarship to local teen

    When she’s not executing her stickhandling skills on the lacrosse field, you might find Madison Zook helping grade school students improve their literacy, volunteering as a Relay for Life captain, or taking the stage with her fellow thespians at her high school.And if that’s not enough, you might

  • AFTAC contractor recognized for 30+ years of service

    For more than three decades, Dr. Anne S. Henson has focused her attention on physics, geophysics and seismology, and that hard work paid off: her company recognized her with a token of appreciation for her continued dedication.

  • AFTAC personnel awarded Nuclear Deterrence Medal

    The Air Force Nuclear Enterprise Functional Authority has authorized personnel from the Air Force Technical Applications Center here the award of the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal effective April 13, 2016.