ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Air Force Global Strike Command’s top leaders visited here on Feb. 17 and 18, 2026, to assess readiness for the B-21 Raider beddown and meet the Airmen carrying out long-range strike operations today while preparing for tomorrow’s deterrent.
Gen. S.L. Davis, commander of AFGSC, and Chief Master Sergeant Shawn M. Aiello, AFGSC command chief, received updates on the B-21 facility portfolio and the less visible work that transforms buildings into mission capability, while Ellsworth continues to maintain B-1 readiness and global taskings.
“The tremendous work being done at Ellsworth and the tireless dedication of every Airman here is clear,” Davis said. “Your actions contribute directly to our current and future warfighting capability and are vital to the security of our nation.”
During the visit, Davis and Aiello engaged Airmen across the wing on standards, readiness, nuclear transition discipline, and bomber force modernization.
“They came to see that Ellsworth is building real combat capability on schedule, under pressure, and without lowering standards,” said Col. Erick Lord, 28th Bomb Wing commander. “We are delivering long-range strike today and laying the foundation for the B-21 mission. That’s not a future plan. It’s a daily execution challenge and our Airmen are handling it with discipline.”
The tour included visits to B-21 construction sites, wing support agencies, and mission support facilities across the installation. They also received updates on wing improvements, including the completion of the $129.5 million runway reconstruction project, and on the efforts underway to ensure that facilities are mission-ready as the B-21 beddown advances.
The Air Force announced in 2019 that Ellsworth was chosen as the preferred location for the first operational B-21 Raider and the formal training unit. One of the reasons for its selection was that the base offers sufficient space and existing facilities needed to support simultaneous missions at the lowest cost and with minimal operational disruption.
The AFGSC command team also met with civic and community leaders to discuss how mission growth impacts infrastructure capacity, housing availability, and long-term community resilience that directly supports Airmen and their families.
“Our relationship with this community isn’t ceremonial, it’s operational,” Lord said. “When you grow a mission at this scale, housing, infrastructure, and stability become readiness issues. The Black Hills have shown up for our Airmen and families, and we owe them the same standard we demand of ourselves: honesty about what’s coming, and relentless execution to get it right.”
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