LANGLEY AFB, VA. –
The 315 Airmen of the 30th Intelligence Squadron were recognized as the Air Force’s 2005 Outstanding Intelligence Squadron of the Year April 18 at the annual Air Force Intelligence Awards Program banquet at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
The men and women of the 30th IS are part of the Air Force’s newest weapons system, the AN/GSQ-272 “Sentinel,” and belong to the 480th Intelligence Wing also located at Langley. They operate Distributed Ground Station-One and have a global mission of providing near-real time intelligence collected by U-2, Predator and Global Hawk reconnaissance aircraft to forward deployed warfighters. Currently, the squadron is heavily engaged in direct support to combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Lt. Col. Kevin Glenn, 30th IS commander, said he believes the recognition is largely due to the 30th IS contributions as a squadron and as individuals to the Global War on Terrorism.
During 2005, the squadron was engaged 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in combat operations and provided intelligence analysis for more than 1,600 U-2 and Predator combat sorties flown over Iraq and Afghanistan. The squadron produced more than 35,000 imagery and signals intelligence products including 9,000 delivered direct to U.S. forces engaged in ground combat.
Colonel Glenn added, while the squadron excelled at its support to combat operations, it also garnered other accolades this past year. It was awarded Eighth Air Force’s April 2005 Unit Safety Award of Distinction.
He attributes much of the squadron’s current success to the Airmen.
The Airmen of the 30th IS also received recognition for their contribution to the Langley Airmen Against Drunk Driving program when the 1st Fighter Wing commander named them the AADD Squadron of the Year.
“Phenomenal airmen, NCOs and junior officers are committed to being really good at what they do. There is an awesome sense of teamwork between the 30th and the 10th IS which maintains the equipment for our operators. It’s difficult not to do well when surrounded by this much talent and initiative,” Colonel Glenn said.