PETERSON’S NEWEST RE-ENLISTEES – PAGE 16 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Thursday, February 9, 2006 Vol. 50 No. 6 Peterson NCO thanks Congress for new family member By Staff Sgt. C. Todd Lopez Air Force Print News WASHINGTON – As the president spoke to the nation during the State of the Union address, an Airman sat in the gallery, dressed in blues, displaying the combat medals she earned in Iraq. America’s most prominent leaders gathered on Capitol Hill for the annual speech Jan. 31. Sitting attentively at her feet, the Airman’s German shepherd attended the speech too. Technical Sgt. Jamie Dana is a 21st Security Forces Military Working Dog handler. In June, she was severely injured by an improvised explosive device while on duty in Iraq with her military working dog, Rex. The dog also sustained minor injuries. Because of her injuries, Sergeant Dana will soon leave the Air Force. But she didn’t want to leave Rex behind – they were a team, she said. The president and some members of Congress helped make it possible for her to adopt Rex. Originally, law prohibited the adoption because Rex was still considered useful to the military. Photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi Recognizing the need to do the right thing, congres- Chairman of the Senate Armed Services sional leaders quickly drafted legislation, clearing the Committee Sen. John Warner meets Rex, a retired road to make the adoption possible. With the presi- military working dog and Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana Photo by Eric Draper dent’s signature, Rex became her dog. 21st Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog handler, in his Capitol Hill office Jan. 31. President George W. Bush poses with Tech. Sgt. Sergeant Dana, Rex and her husband, Staff Sgt. Jamie Dana, 21st Security Forces Military Working Looking on in the background is Tech Sgt. Dana's Dog handler and Rex, at the United States Capitol Michael Dana, visited Capitol Hill here to thank the husband 21st Security Forces Squadron specialist during the State of the Union Address Jan. 31. See Team, Page 12 Staff Sgt. Michael Dana. New surveillance system tracks Stardust satellite By 2nd Lt. Benjamin Meier The 21st Space Wing is responsi- 21st Space Wing Public Affairs ble for maintaining and upgrading equipment at Geographically Separated The Air Force helped direct the Units to provide space situational aware- safe return of the Jet Propulsion ness in support of its space superiority Laboratory Stardust satellite using mission. The 21st Space Wing recently the new Ground-based Electro Optical facilitated the upgrade of the GEODSS Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) system at Maui Air Force Station, system over the Martin Luther King Hawaii. The 1st Space Control Squadron Jr. weekend. See Stardust, Page 17 Courtesy photo An eye-opening experience Captain Jennifer Owen, 21st Medical Group optometrist, and a doctor from the Ecuadorian Air Force, examine a child Feb. 1 during a Medical Readiness Exercise in Ecuador. Fourteen members from the 21st Medical Group deployed to Ecuador Jan. 28 to provide free medical services to thousands of Ecuadorians during the 11-day exercise. The U.S. Southern Command Courtesy photo medical readiness exercise program conducts exercises throughout Latin The Maui Space Surveillance System is a state-of-the-art electro-optical facil- America to provide much-needed medical care to people without access to ity combining operational satellite tracking facilities with a research and medical care and also to train with medical personnel from other countries to development facility located at the top of Mount Haleakala, Hawaii. exchange information, techniques and promote interoperability. INSIDE News 1-5 National Prayer Luncheon Exercise input Viewpoint 6 Peterson members gather for day Condor Crest 06-02 tests wing Condor Crest Commentary 8 of prayer. Monday through Feb. 17. 06-02 Exercise Feature 14-15 Page 4 Page 13 Calendar 19 Monday through Feb. 17 SPACE OBSERVER 2 Thursday, February 9, 2006 Wing’s priority takes of supervi- development pertain directly to civil- sors are meeting ians, enlisted and officers alike. We or exceeding need to invest in the professional devel- care of all its people expectations in this opment of all of our Airmen – one By Col. Jay G. Santee “We need to area, we occasionally Airman at a time. 21st Space Wing commander reemphasize certain experience situations “Remember – mission first, people fundamentals to ensure our where we missed the mark. always. Without question, our people I would like to share excerpts mission success, as well as Commanders and supervisors continue to be our number-one resource. from a letter, Taking Care of Our Own their individual success. We, at all levels must ensure a All leaders within our command have a Enlisted Airmen Memo, which was as leaders, need to ensure we continuous loop of formal responsibility to unleash and develop signed by Gen. Lance Lord, Air Force stay attuned to current poli- and informal feedback. each Airman’s potential and prepare cies and forthcoming “In addition to provid- Space Command commander, and them to take the reins of leadership. changes to enhance timely ing feedback on present per- Continue to dedicate yourselves to this expand on how our wing’s priority goes and effective career counsel formance, leaders must responsibility – it will pay huge divi- hand-in-hand with them. for our troops. develop a coherent career dends for our nation and our Air Force.” “The Command is doing an out- “The single most plan for future jobs and other Our wing’s priority, “Take care of standing job serving our country as the important factor to our enlist- opportunities commensurate our people – ensure they get what world’s preeminent space and missile ed member’s success is men- Col. with each individual’s abili- they’ve earned” falls right in line with force. As we face today’s challenges of toring from all levels by pro- Jay G. Santee ties, potential and grade. General Lord’s message. As leaders, we deployment and mission changes, we are viding frank, constructive performance Career broadening both in the member’s need to know and care for our people, consistently reminded it is our people feedback and suggesting ways to career field and outside his or her career and ensure our subordinates know what who make it all happen. We would like improve performance. The feedback field are essential requirements to is expected so we can appropriately to take this opportunity to share some program has the potential to overcome ensure a well-rounded future force. reward them based on performance. thoughts with you on taking care of our significant shortcomings if used in the “Remain mindful the basic tenets Professional development of our number one resource, our Airmen. proper manner. While the vast majority of performance enhancement and career Airmen is everyone’s responsibility. African-American heritage AFSPC vice commander visits SMC By 1st Lt. Regina Gillis is also American heritage Space and Missile Systems Center Public Affairs By Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz churches and schoolrooms is observed LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command all across America as African- Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, Air Force Space Command American Heritage Month. vice commander, visited the Space and Missile Editor’s note: This article is taken As Dr. Woodson rightly stated, Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, from a speech by Lt. Gen. Frank G. African-American heritage should not Calif., Jan 23 and 24 to meet the Center’s space and acquisitions professionals and to review the Klotz, Vice Commander of Air Force be remembered and celebrated by just major programs SMC has responsibility for. Space Command, delivered during one segment of the American popula- The two-day visit allowed SMC Commander Lt. African-American Heritage Month tion. Rather, African-American history Gen. Michael Hamel, SMC Vice Commander Brig. Gen. is America’s history, shared by and observances at Malmstrom Air Force William McCasland and SMC program office directors the opportunity to give Base, Mont., last year. affecting all citizens of our great coun- General Klotz overviews of their programs and status briefs on the systems they In the 1920’s, Dr. Carter G. try regardless of background or indi- acquire and develop to enhance the nation’s space and missile forces. Woodson concluded that if African vidual experiences. “There have been challenges with acquiring next-generation systems, but Americans were to take their rightful The accomplishments and contri- Air Force Space Command is absolutely committed to becoming the Department place in society, young Americans of butions of African Americans to our of Defense’s model for acquisition excellence. General Hamel and the SMC team all races needed to learn about African- society, to our culture, to our identity are already well on their way toward meeting that goal,” General Klotz said. American contributions to our history as a nation are numerous and varied. “We are reinvigorating our systems engineering, our program management and and culture. In 1926, he launched the We’d be hard pressed to find any facet our workforce to achieve better performance,” he said. first Black History Week; and, today a of American life that has not been Better performance is the result of refining processes, building partnerships movement that originally began in See Heritage, Page 13 See Visit, Page 6 A Moment in Time Feb. 5, 1914 Lieutenant J.C. Morrow becomes the last flier to qualify as a Military Aviator. Feb. 6, 1959 Published by Colorado Springs Military Newspapers Group, 31 E. Platte Avenue, Suite 300, Colorado 21st Space Wing Springs, 80903, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S.