Santa Rosa County Commissioners have formally begun the process of negotiating with the U.S. Navy over a potential land leveraging agreement involving Outlying Field Santa Rosa, a move officials say could protect Naval Air Station Whiting Field’s training mission while expanding development opportunities in East Milton.

Commander, Navy Installations Command, Vice Adm. Scott Gray, announced in a message Jan.1 that Naval Air Station Whiting Field was the Navy’s top pick in the small installation category for the CNIC 2026 Installation Excellence Award program.

Leonardo Helicopters US opened its first Florida facility, the Leonardo Florida Support Center, on Sept. 18, located just off NAS Whiting Field.

What begins as curiosity in the classroom can become innovation in a lab – specifically when guided by the right mentors.

Eglin interns shared the results of their six-week Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics journey July 31 during a project showcase for 96th Test Wing senior leadership and community partners.

Team Eglin participants gathered at the University of Florida’s Research and Engineering Education Facility for Software Defined Radio Day, a hands-on workshop fostering continuous learning and technical innovation under a combat innovation initiative July 21.

Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink departed July 24 on his first international trip as SecAF, traveling throughout the U.S. Asia-Pacific area of responsibility to reinforce international partnerships and meet with Airmen and Guardians supporting the Department of the Air Force’s 2025 Department-Level Exercise.

Newly-installed drag reduction devices called Finlets are currently undergoing flight testing on MC-130Js. Finlets are passive, fin-like devices attached to the rear of the aircraft which smooth airflow and reduce drag, enhancing fuel efficiency and improving operational capabilities.

Few aircraft are as iconic as the B-2A Spirit stealth bomber, captivating audiences wherever it flies. Designed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, during the height of the Cold War, its purpose was to penetrate heavily defended enemy airspace, operating independently to destroy critical strategic targets.

June 29, 2025, marks the 70th anniversary of the first operational Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-52 Stratofortress delivery to the 93rd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) at Castle Air Force Base, Calif. The aircraft, RB-52B (52-8711), departed the Boeing Moses Lake testing facility at Larson AFB, Wash., and performed a seven-hour training mission prior to the delivery to Castle AFB.

Bright green paintballs whizzed through the humid air in all directions.  Many zoomed past or contacted the advancing three-Airmen team desperately trying to reach a casualty 50 yards away.