Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Flosi recently visited Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. During their visit, they met with Airmen from the 354th Fighter Wing and observed the progress of Agile Combat Employment despite challenges posed by the arctic environment. Kendall highlighted the strategic importance of Alaska as a connecting point between North America and the Indo-Pacific, emphasizing the wing’s preparation to deploy aircraft across the international dateline in a light, lean, and lethal manner.
Eielson AFB’s Arctic location allows for strategic airpower projection of F-35A Lightning II and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft to combatant commanders in support of national military objectives. Gen. Allvin praised the Airmen at Eielson for overcoming the unique challenges of operating in the Arctic and expanding Agile Combat Employment, enabling more dispersed and decentralized operations. The recent completion of an aircraft generation exercise at Eielson prepared F-35 aircraft for hub-and-spoke operations across the Indo-Pacific, showcasing the base’s growing strategic importance.
Col. Paul Townsend, 354th FW commander, highlighted Eielson’s role in deploying advanced fifth-generation fighters and providing simulated combat training ranges through exercises like Red Flag-Alaska. The 356th Fighter Squadron has F-35 aircraft operating out of Kadena Air Base in Japan and participating in international exercises like Cope Tiger. Resiliency is crucial to Eielson AFB’s role in homeland defense, ensuring readiness in the face of evolving threats.
The visit to Eielson AFB was part of a series of visits by senior Air Force leaders to Airmen and Guardians in the Indo-Pacific region. The base’s critical role in the Indo-Pacific, Arctic, and homeland defense was emphasized, showcasing the Airmen’s contributions to national defense. Overall, the visit highlighted Eielson AFB’s continued growth in strategic importance and its ability to deploy advanced aircraft and provide essential training opportunities in a challenging arctic environment.
