“The 88 OSS has phenomenally demonstrated their capability and served this wing well. What is great about today’s ceremony is that we are not saying goodbye to anyone,” said Col. Thomas Sherman, 88th Air Base Wing and installation commander. “Normally in cases like this, we are always bidding someone farewell and acknowledging what they did in their positions, but the beauty of what is happening here is changing the dynamics of our operations.”
Sherman added that the Air Force must be prepared to protect installations as they are warfighting platforms.
Rapidly evolving threats alerted the Air Force and other services to the need for new approaches for proactive measures to defend personnel, facilities, operations and critical information on installations overseas as well as state side.
“Installations are no longer sanctuaries, combat anywhere is combat everywhere, said Col. Lori Winn, 88 CG commander. “Ever-changing cyber threats and new physical threats from drones, chemical warfare and other asymmetric tactics demand we focus operations synchronized across all domains. Under the chief of staff of the Air Force’s focus on multi-domain operations, the Air Force plans to address these multiple threats, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has taken the first step into the future.”
“When you look at the amazing diversity of the 88 OSS, it uniquely dovetails into what 88 CG is growing into,” said Sherman. “It absolutely unites what our concepts of operations is as an air base wing. The ability to control the air, the ability to control the cyber domain, and our ability to protect and manage this installation across the board is pivotal, and this union is our ability to actualize this.”
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