28th Bomb Wing commander addresses local media during State of Ellsworth brief

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alessandra N. Gamboa
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Local media gathered in the 28th Bomb Wing headquarters building for a briefing with the wing commander concerning Ellsworth issues, April 5.

Col. Jeffrey Taliaferro, 28th BW commander, addressed press and media representatives, and provided a brief overview of and updates on current issues surrounding the installation.

"The purpose of this meeting is to orient you to what is going on at Ellsworth, and to answer any questions you may have on current base issues," Colonel Taliaferro said.

Colonel Taliaferro began the presentation by explaining the base organizational structure and how each Airman contributes to the mission of putting bombs on target.

He then spoke about the size and locations of the B-1B Lancer fleet, personnel demographics, B-1 capabilities and the current operations tempo, including Operation Odyssey Dawn.

"Time and again, our Airmen have answered the nation's call," he said. "Most recently, in Operation Odyssey Dawn, our forces dropped nearly 100 bombs accounting for nearly 23 percent of all tonnage dropped in that operation."

The base commander stated that all strikes undertaken throughout the mission were highly effective and achieved their intended effects. Colonel Taliaferro expressed his pride for the Airmen throughout the wing who worked diligently to make the mission a success.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Colonel Taliaferro answered questions and spoke at length about housing, the proposed Powder River Training Complex expansion, the new MQ-9 mission and several other issues.

One of the top issues the commander spoke about was the appropriations bill. He said he felt confident that communication and involvement from the Department of Defense and congressional leadership would help Ellsworth meet its needs for future projects. In the meantime, he emphasized the efficiency of base operations to continue to get the job done with limited funds.

"While the lack of an appropriations bill has created some extra work in areas like contracting, it hasn't stopped the mission," he said. "We maintain a close working relationship with the South Dakota Congressional delegation, and know they have a full understanding of our issues."

Colonel Taliaferro also fielded a variety of questions related to the MQ-9 mission at Ellsworth. He said the shift toward remotely-piloted aircraft for combat is growing throughout the Air Force and he is looking forward to the arrival of 280 personnel in 2012 to support the new mission.

"We're excited about gaining the new MQ-9 mission," he said. "Our biggest challenge will be adopting a mindset that we are at combat every day in 2012."

The commander concluded his question and answer period by responding to questions about the proposed Powder River Training Complex.

"We continue to move forward on the Powder River Training Complex," he said. "Our efforts have shifted to focus on cooperation with the FAA as Air Combat Command finalizes the Environmental Impact Statement."

Other areas covered during the event included the upcoming 6.4 million dollar runway repair project this fall, and the Dakota Thunder 2011 air show scheduled for June 4.