Partnerships around the world, Ellsworth shares mission with defense attachés

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dylan Maher
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The 28th Bomb Wing hosted an immersive and informational tour to 22 foreign defense attachés and their spouses during the Fall 2024 Defense Attache Immersion Program Sept. 9.

Foreign defense attachés and defense security cooperation staff assigned to the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency were greeted by the 28th Bomb Wing command team and briefed on the central mission sets conducted here, including the blueprint of what the infrastructure of Ellsworth Air Force Base will resemble with the incoming B-21 Raider.

Defense attachés are members of the armed forces, serving in an embassy as a representative of their country’s defense establishment.

“The most important reason we have attachés travel around the country and visit base installations is accessibility,” said Col. Greg Pipes, Defense Intelligence Agency liaison division chief. “These tours allow tremendous access and provide each attaché with valuable insight to report back to their capital.”

Guests were treated to a guided tour underneath and inside the cockpit of a B-1B Lancer, getting a closer look at the various munitions that support the B-1’s weapons systems arsenal. Additionally, they surveyed the flightline showcasing the current B-21 construction progress.

During their time here, the attachés met with Airmen across the wing, getting to see firsthand how equipment and tools utilized by the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron and 28th Security Forces Squadrons have evolved.

Rear Admiral Axel Ristau, defense attaché from the German Navy, took a moment to recognize the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, an event in world history that exemplifies the importance of building and maintaining impactful relationships.

“We are incredibly grateful to the U.S. Air Force and to our partners and allies.” said Ristau.

Before the guests departed, Col. Derek Oakley, 28th Bomb Wing commander, addressed his appreciation for this opportunity to be face-to-face with foreign partners.

“We hope what you take from this visit, is that we are transparent with our partners and allies,” said Col. Derek Oakley, 28th Bomb Wing commander. “It’s a significant workload to do what we do for both active B-1 missions, deploying around the world, and at the same time trying to bed down the B-21.”