Thanks for a job well done. Again!

  • Published
  • By Brig. Gen. Nina Armagno
  • Commander, 45th Space Wing
Wow! What a great job by "Team Patrick-Cape" last Friday morning as we all worked together to perform yet another successful launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Our entire team worked in perfect rhythm to launch a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the second Mobile User Objective System (MUOS-2) satellite for the United States Navy.

As someone who has worked on MUOS during its development, (I was part of a team that wrote the operational test and evaluation plan) it was great to see the mission come to fruition during my first time serving as the Launch Decision Authority here on the Eastern Range.

It was a thrill I will carry forever, and once again, all the credit goes to the incredible team of "space professionals" all throughout our Wing and our valued mission partners up and down the Space Coast. I salute each and every one of you.

This was also our first launch since work furloughs have seriously impacted our Civilian Airmen workforce, and while we were still able to make it happen, we learned a few lessons along the way.

I can't emphasize enough that we have to follow the rules on this. Although I admire our dedicated government civilian's commitment to our mission, we must reinforce the policies of the furlough.

In 12 days, we will be launching another United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket with the fifth Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft, formerly known as the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite.

As we have been saying all along, we will guarantee our customer "one launch attempt" and give it our "best efforts" for back up launch dates if the need be.

Understanding and following the furlough rules are critical to supporting our primary mission.

Those of you supporting the launch need to work with your supervisors to schedule your two furlough days per pay period so that you can support launch preparations and the primary / backup launch date without exceeding your work hour constraints. No overtime is authorized.

It will take planning and teamwork from all of us. And that's something this wing does as well as any in the Air Force. You proved that last Friday, and we'll prove it again Aug. 7.

Stay focused Sharks!