Briefs
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NAVY
West Virginian takes command
A new Navy commander took over responsibility Friday for 30 surface ships and submarines homeported at Pearl Harbor and more than 70 shore commands and activities.
Rear Adm. Barry McCullough relieved Rear Adm. Robert T. Conway Jr. as commander of Navy Region Hawai'i and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific.
McCullough, who's from Weirton, W.Va., graduated from the Naval Academy with a degree in naval architecture and was commissioned an ensign in 1975. McCullough also completed Naval Nuclear Power training.
McCullough recently served as Director for Strategy and Analysis at the U.S. Joint Forces Command, and from 1999 to 2001 commanded the cruiser USS Normandy.
Conway will command Expeditionary Strike Group-One, an experimental battle force based out of San Diego that increases the firepower of a traditional amphibious ready group of Marines and three ships with a submarine, cruiser, destroyer, frigate and P-3 Orion reconnaissance aircraft.
Conway will be deployed on board USS Peleliu.
AIR FORCE
'Ol' Smokey' officially retired
"Ol' Smokey," the Air Force's last EC-135K at Hickam Air Force Base, has made its last flight in service to the Pacific. The more than 43-year-old Boeing 707 variant was officially retired March 7.
The aircraft designated 59-1518 but better known as "Ol' Smokey" because of the smoke generated by its water-injected engines, came to Hickam in 1996.
Used to transport the U.S. Pacific Command and Pacific Air Forces commanders, the jet flew in support of 102 missions, transported seven commanders, and traveled to more than 30 countries in its 66 months at Hickam.
At the aircraft's retirement ceremony, 15th Air Base Wing Vice Commander Col. Bill Kunzweiler said, "We have so many emotions. The hard work, sweat and pain invested in this airplane by all the operators and maintainers. And now we know that when she leaves, this time it will be for good."
The aircraft was flown to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center in Phoenix.
On Feb. 20, meanwhile, a new C-40B, a specially modified Boeing 737, was dedicated at Hickam after undergoing a 45-day training and pre-operations period.
The C-40B is the second in the Air Force inventory. The first is based at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
The new jet assigned to the 65th Airlift Squadron has enhanced ground-proximity warning systems, low-visibility landing capability, and threat-collision avoidance systems.
ARMY
Evacuation mission tested
Army elements participated March 12 and 13 in a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation, or NEO, with Marine, Navy and Air Force personnel.
The two-day exercise involved 24 Marines from Combat Service Support Group 3 at Kane'ohe Bay setting up a processing point at Wheeler Army Airfield where noncombatants could be prepared to be transported to safety.
Such evacuations can include rescuing embassy personnel and their families, or removing American citizens under threat or attack in a foreign country.
Soldiers and airmen played the part of the civilians who requested the emergency response.
"This exercise could be a preparation for a real-world mission for the 25th (Infantry Division, Light)," said Lt. Col. Daniel Georgi, commander of the 524th Corps Support Battalion. "With all the hot spots popping up around the world, including the Korean Peninsula, India, Pakistan and Africa, there's a chance that it may fall onto us to take action."
Marine CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters transported the role players to Moloka'i. From there, they boarded a C-130 for a flight to Kaua'i, where an evacuation control was set up. Finally, they flew back to O'ahu via C-130, simulating a return to their homeland.
Capt. Audrey Woo, a 524th supply and service officer, said the likelihood is good the training will be put into use.
"There have been possibilities of doing an NEO mission in the last year," she said. "Though we haven't had to do one yet, unless you practice the exercise you don't know what you are capable of."
