Issuu

V O L . 65 NO. 5

T H U R S DAY, F E B R UA RY 4 , 2021

SPACE OBSERVER P E T E R S O N

A I R

F O R C E

B A S E

MAJ. GEN. LEAH LAUDERBACK VISITS DELTA 7 BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS ALEXUS WILCOX PETERSON-SCHRIEVER GARRISON PUBLIC AFFAIRS

(U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexus Wilcox)

Maj. Gen. Leah G. Lauderback (second from right), Director of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Space Force, with Col. Chandler P. Atwood (far right), Space Delta 7 commander, visits the Delta 7 team Jan. 28, 2021, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The Space Force’s intelligence apparatus was recognized as a member of the national intelligence community Jan. 8, 2021, and was the first new organization to join since 2006. Lauderback’s visit emphasizes the pivotal role Delta 7 plays in intelligence and space operations for national security.

INSIDE

INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION PAGE 2

NEWS 1-8 | CLASSIFIED 9 | CROSSWORD 10

THULE AB RECEIVES COVID-19 VACCINES PAGE 3

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE COVID-19 VACCINES PAGE 4

FACES OF SPACE STAFF SGT. AMOS HOMMEL PAGE 5

Inspiring a new generation By Airman 1st Class Brooke Wise | PETERSON-SCHRIEVER GARRISON PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Women from across the U.S. Space Force and U.S Air Force volunteered to speak in a virtual panel, educating Girl Scouts on careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Jan. 12 and 19, 2021. The panel, hosted by Girl Scouts of Colorado, put more than a dozen space and cyber professionals in touch with nearly 300 scouts and gave them the opportunity to share their experience with STEM careers within the Air and Space Force. Topics included satellite operations, engineering, life as an astronaut and the many other careers the USSF has to offer. The panel took place on two separate days; the first for kindergarten through 5th grade, and the second for 6th through 12th grade. “I heard a story about the history-making, all-female space operations crew on [national public radio],” said Leanna Clark, chief executive officer for Girl Scouts of Colorado. “I was awed by the crew’s accomplishments in a traditionally male-dominated field. I googled the crew to find out more and knew immediately that we had to get our girls connected with this incredible group of women.” The mission of the Girl Scouting is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place, and to create unique leadership paths through girl-led traditions. The STEM panel was a perfect opportunity for Girl Scouts of Colorado to expose their young members to women living out those exact values every day. Many of the mothers of these young women explained how motivational these panels were for their girls, and

(courtesy photo)

Girl Scout Aria Modrow participates in a virtual STEM panel featuring women of the U.S. Air and Space Force from Peterson Air Force Base, Jan. 19, 2021. During the panel the women discussed topics such as satellite operations, engineering, life as an astronaut, and various Space Force careers. how grateful they were to the women who took the time to speak. “Any event that inspires those that will be the future of our nation holds an incredible amount of importance to me,” said panel volunteer 1st Lt. Kelley McCaa, 2nd Space Operations Squadron Satellite vehicle operator. “I’ve realized that growing up if I had the opportunity

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to see and talk to women in a STEM career, I would have been more encouraged to seek out a profession in STEM sooner than I had.” According to the U.S. Department of Education, young adults with at least a bachelor’s degree in the See Inspiring page 8

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Thule AB receives first air transportation of COVID-19 vaccines

By Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow | PETERSON-SCHRIEVER GARRISON THULE AIR BASE, Greenland — Thule Air Base in Greenland received a shipment of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines on Jan. 14, 2021, as part of the first transportation of the vaccine to the remote base operated by the 821st Air Base Group, part of the Peterson-Schriever Garrison. Being the U.S.’s northernmost base, located only 750 miles from the Arctic Circle, Thule AB does not have normal supply chain access like other installations. This made Thule AB a prime candidate to receive the vaccine. The 87th Medical Group and the 305th Aerial Port Squadron contributed joint efforts to support Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst’s COVID-19 vaccine shipment to Greenland. “Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine shipment will align us with the rest of the military,” said Capt. Brienna Herdrich, 821st ABG logistics flight commander. During transport, the 87th MDG safeguarded the vaccine to ensure Thule AB would receive a viable product. “The remoteness of Thule AB does not exempt it from the global fight against COVID-19,” said Tech. Sgt. Josué Diaz, 821st Support Squadron medical operations flight chief. “The vaccine will offer an added measure of maintaining mission-readiness in the wake of this pandemic.” Thule AB healthcare professionals created a localized vaccination plan to adhere to the Department of Defense’s phased approach to administering the vaccine. “Throughout the pandemic we have been concerned See Thule page 8

(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Azaria E. Foster)

Airmen assigned to the 305th Aerial Port Squadron load the COVID-19 vaccine onto a Boeing 757 assigned to Air Transport International at Joint Base McGuireDix-Lakehurst, N.J., Jan. 13, 2021.The 87th Medical Group and the 305th APS contributed joint efforts to support the first transportation of the COVID-19 vaccine to Thule Air Base, Greenland. The units ensured safe and secure shipping of the vaccine to help protect the health and mission readiness of Thule AB personnel.

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DOD experts explain: The science behind the COVID-19 vaccines

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Letzibeth Mendez-Rivera, a lab manager with the Emerging Infectious Disease Branch at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, outside of Washington, D.C., studies coronavirus protein samples June 1. The EIDB is part of WRAIR's effort to produce a COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

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FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Almost six weeks after the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for the first two COVID-19 vaccines, many questions have arisen concerning their efficacy in attacking the SARS-CoV-2 virus and deadly COVID-19 disease. To better understand how COVID-19 vaccines work, MHS Communications spoke to two medical experts who have been intimately involved in the Department of Defense’s effort to develop and roll out vaccines for Americans: Dr. Margaret Ryan, medical director of the Defense Health Agency’s Immunization Healthcare Division at the Pacific Region Vaccine Safety Hub in San Diego, California; and Air Force Col. (Dr.) Jessica Cowden, chief medical officer of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense and the Infectious Disease Programs at the Defense Institute for Medical Operations at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

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SPACE OBSERVER PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE

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GRIFFIN SWARTZELL Published by Colorado Springs Military Newspapers Group, 235 S. Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, 80903, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the Peterson/ Schriever Garrison. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services.

The virus and the disease

Contents of the Space Observer are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by DoD, the Department of the Air Force, or CSMNG, of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided bby the Peterson/Schriever Garrison Public Affairs Office, 775 Loring Ave., Suite 219, Peterson AFB, Colo., 809141294, (719) 556-5185 or DSN 834-5185, fax (719) 5567848 or DSN 834-7848. All photographs are Air Force photographs unless otherwise indicated. The Space Observer is published every Thursday. For advertising inquiries, call Colorado Springs Military Newspapers, (719) 634-5905. Employees of Peterson Air Force Base who want to place a free classified advertisement should call (719) 329-5210. Articles, announcements, news briefs or feedback for the Space Observer should be submitted to the P-S GAR via space.observer@us.af.mil. For further information, to the P-S GAR at (719) 556-5185 or DSN 834-5185 or e-mail space.observer@us.af.mil. Deadline for article submission is noon the Friday one week before publication. All articles, copy and announcements submitted will be edited to conform to AFI Series 35 and the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual. For information in the event of a Peterson Air Force Base emergency, contact the Straight Talk line at (719) 556-9154.

SARS-CoV-2 virus, like other viruses, is an infectious agent that consists of genetic coding material called RNA [usually

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a single-stranded ribose sugar phosphate] or DNA [usually a double-stranded deoxyribose sugar phosphate] that is contained in a protein coat, Ryan stated. Viruses cannot reproduce themselves until they infect a living cell, she explained, so viral RNA or DNA cause an infected cell to make copies of the virus, thus infecting other living cells and potentially making people very sick in the process. “In the case of SARS-CoV-2, the virus tends to infect cells in the human respiratory tract,” said Ryan. “The body responds to infection with inflammation, and people may experience fever, cough, and trouble breathing. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can also use its surface ‘spike protein’ to infect other cells in the body.” The spectrum of illnesses the SARS-CoV-2 causes is called COVID-19 - or coronavirus disease from a pathogen first identified in 2019, she said. “People with COVID-19 can spread virus to nearby people from respiratory secretions after coughing, sneezing, or even talking.” However, asymptomatic people infected with COVID-19 may still spread virus, she explained. And “respiratory secre-

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Faces of Space - Staff Sgt. Amos Hommel By Airman 1st Class Alexus Wilcox | PETERSON-SCHRIEVER GARRISON PUBLIC AFFAIRS

SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — After working in the U.S. Air Force for 13 years, a person might question their motivation to continue and persevere. Staff Sgt. Amos Hommel, Delta 8 payload operations supervisor, has a simple answer to that question: family. “Even before I joined I’ve been really close to my family, but being away from them makes me realize how important the little moments are when it comes to family time,” said Hommel. Growing up in the small town of Kingsport, Tennessee, Hommel dreamed of being in the military, following in the footsteps of his father, who worked in a supply unit for the U.S. Army, and two cousins, who worked in a U.S. Air Force maintenance unit, joined the Armed Forces. Although Hommel had originally planned to join the Army, he enlisted in the Air Force in 2007. “The Air Force has been really good to me and it has given me opportunities that I wouldn’t have had back in my hometown,” he explained. Hommel’s career began in the 628th Communications Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, where he was selected to become part of an aircrew. Being a part of an aircrew is a special duty in his career field, and he truly enjoyed the five years he spent flying on C-17s. “Flying on a C-17 is cool, but the tactical maneuvers were amazing,” Hommel exclaimed. “For instance, we flew through the Grand Canyon where the sides were above the jet. That was definitely a once in a lifetime experience!” Throughout his career, Hommel has had great mentorship. During his time in Charleston, he had a role model who made a large impact on his life and career, William Cotton, a staff sergeant at the time. “Staff Sgt. Cotton actually cared,” Hommel explained. “He didn’t just ask how my day was or how a holiday was; he actually wanted to know details about my personal life and shared life experiences he’d been through.” Cotton’s mentorship helps guide him as he worked with

junior enlisted U.S. Air Force Airmen and U.S. Space Force Guardians. Hommel tries to steer them away from the negative experiences he encountered during his career, reminding them not to base their career on one assignment, unit or base. “Taking care of people is what’s important to me, because without that you don’t have anything,” said Hommel. “You can be a good leader, but to be a great leader your subordinates need to care about what you have to say.” Hommel isn’t all work though. He takes a keen interest in sports, especially football. His dad was a preacher, so if he wasn’t in the church with family, he was most likely playing on the football field. Growing up Hommel loved the University of Tennessee Volunteers (Space Force graphic by Airman 1st Class Alexus Wilcox) football team. He even had hopes of joining the team one day, but during his junior year of high school, he was injured. After the injury, physical contact sports became less of an option for Hommel but that did not stop him from persevering in life. Aside from sports, Hommel also takes a keen interest in DC Comics. “I don’t remember when it started, but from what I can remember, I have always been a Superman fan,” said Hommel. From his demeanor to his attitude, Hommel finds similarities between him and Superman that are relevant to his life. He says that he relates to Superman being a loner and how, at times, he felt alienated in his life. Hommel also values the ideals of Superman: everyone must be saved and even criminals should be brought to justice in an ethical manner, instead of being destroyed. Hommel’s favorite tattoo is on his forearm, with a montage of the original Justice League characters and their villains. He also has the Tennessee “power T” tattoo to represent the Tennessee Volunteers football team that he loves. Although Hommel enjoys many things, the military is definitely a priority. His assignment as a payload operations supervisor at Schriever Air Force Base started in March 2020, and he’s already established himself as a leader in his unit. Hommel oversaw the certification of eight brand new tech school Airmen on their duty positions while maintaining 24-hour communications system operator coverage for the protected Schriever Satellite Communications enterprise. “Staff Sgt. Hommel exemplifies the ‘lead by example’ mentality,” said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Rozneck, Space Delta 8 senior enlisted leader. “Over the past six months he’s filled a technical sergeant vacancy, leading 22 military and civilian satellite communication experts.” According to Hommel, a person’s military career is what they make it, and though there will be difficult times, he had this to say for a person who takes charge of their future: “You’ll have the time of your life.”

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Vaccines FROM PAGE 4

tions on surfaces may also be picked up by people who handle these surfaces, although this may be a less common way that COVID-19 is spread,” she said. That’s why it is so important for all people to heed medical guidance and wear facemasks, wash hands frequently, and practice physical distancing. As we have learned, some people react differently to the virus than others: Some get sick with COVID-19 while others remain asymptomatic. This is because the COVID-19 virus, as many others, can infect some people who never develop any symptoms, she said. “These asymptomatic people may mount an immune response to infection before experiencing symptoms, or they may tolerate infection without symptoms,” explained Ryan. “While it is not entirely clear why some people do not develop symptoms and some people develop only mild symptoms, we know some factors that increase risk of serious infection.” For example, she said older age is an important risk factor for serious COVID-19 infection. “There is no absolute age when risk increases, but 80% of COVID-19 deaths have occurred in people older than age 65.” Many underlying medical conditions can increase the risk of serious COVID-19, including but not limited to chronic lung, heart, and kidney disease; diabetes; cancer; and immune-compromising conditions, such as obesity and pregnancy. Smoking can also increase the risk for illness, she said.

New strains Over the last weeks of 2020 and first weeks of 2021, new variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been identified across the

globe, alarming the public and raising concerns about the efficacy of the vaccines. “Coronaviruses are part of a large family of viruses that are capable of genetically evolving or changing over time,” explained Ryan. “In fact, SARS-CoV-2 likely arose from a major genetic change in a coronavirus that was first identified in 2019.” According to Cowden, “genetic substitutions in the virus genome will lead to the emergence of new strains as SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate in the human population throughout the world.” Some of these new strains, or mutations, may lead to increased or decreased “fitness” of the virus, that is, “the changes in how easily it transmits or in virulence - how sick it makes people. However, although some of these variants appear to be easily transmitted, they cause the same spectrum of symptoms, Ryan explained. “Spike-protein-based immune responses seem to be similar in new variants, which means current vaccines should be effective against these variants.” Nonetheless, she said, scientists are examining the evolution of virus variants very carefully. Recent news reports from the United Kingdom say the new variant they identified among their population may not only be more contagious but could be more deadly as well.

How vaccines work Pharmaceutical companies, universities, and government organizations around the world have been working against and around the clock since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to develop a safe and effective vaccine to counter the rates of contagion. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna received the FDA’s emergency use authorization in the United States in mid-December 2020 for people ages 16 and older and 18 and older, respectively, but other promising candidates are in development by additional professional teams, including Janssen, AstraZeneca, and Novavax.

“The different vaccine candidates are all targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein,” said Cowden. They work by presenting an antigen - a substance that the body does not recognize - to the body, she said. The experts explained that antigens are introduced as a small piece of coding material, called messenger RNA (mRNA), into a few immune cells. It is encased in a lipid coat that allows it to enter only the outer part of the cells. It does not integrate into the person’s DNA or replicate, and it breaks down quickly, so it’s only present in the cell briefly. “That mRNA then tells the cells to express ‘spike protein,’ resulting in the immune system making antibodies to destroy the spike protein,” said Ryan, adding that mRNA vaccines must be handled very carefully and often maintained at very cold temperatures to work properly. Vaccines use different platforms to introduce the spike protein to the body to elicit the immune system’s response of blocking or killing the virus if a person becomes infected after vaccination, added Cowden. “Those antibodies then continue to be made by the body and can bind and/or neutralize the virus if an individual becomes infected after vaccination.” Said Ryan: “The immune system also develops memory immune cells, so that any newly introduced spike protein would also be destroyed. Spike protein is similar to a protein on the coat of coronaviruses, so an immune response to spike protein can equate to immunity from coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).” Pfizer partnered with BioNTech to develop an mRNA vaccine that is administered in two injections given at least 21 days apart. Moderna developed a similar mRNA vaccine that also requires administration as two injections given at least 28 days apart. The mRNA technology in these does not include any virus. Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, developed See Vaccines page 7

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Vaccines FROM PAGE 6

a viral-vector vaccine to be administered in one injection. And AstraZeneca, in partnership with the University of Oxford, also developed a viral-vector vaccine that is to be administered in two injections at least 28 days apart. Both pharmaceuticals are likely to submit their products to FDA for emergency use authorization in the coming weeks. “The Janssen and AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines are both replication-deficient adenovirus-vectored vaccines,” said Cowden. This means they use a different virus, such as measles or adenovirus, which is genetically engineered so that it can produce coronavirus proteins in the body and trigger the immune system to make antibodies against those proteins. “After spike protein is expressed, the immune response is similar to that of mRNA vaccines: The immune system makes antibodies and memory immune cells that target spike protein. This response equates to immunity from SARSCoV-2,” said Ryan. The viruses used in viral-vector vaccines are weakened or inactivated, so they cannot cause disease or harm humans, said the experts. Viral-vector vaccines are also relatively fragile and must be maintained at temperatures that allow them to remain intact to work optimally. Novavax developed an adjuvanted protein subunit vaccine to be administered in two injections at least 21 days apart. The experts explained this type of vaccine usually works by introducing a component of the virus - the antigen - into the body along with an adjuvant, a molecule composed of a cholesterol-like substance that stimulates the immune system, prompting the immune system to make antibodies against the protein antigen, resulting in immunity from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. “Vaccines that use adjuvanted protein subunits introduce the spike protein directly,” said Ryan. Unlike the others, this type of vaccine remains stable in refrigerated temperatures. When data from ongoing clinical trials is complete, Novavax will likely submit an application to FDA for emergency use authorization.

Why must some vaccines be kept in such cold temperatures?

Each vaccine is made differently. And each company is in different stages of testing the stability of its vaccine at different temperatures over time. However, the storage temperature requirements of each depend on the stability of the materials used to make the vaccine and conformation of the antigen, which in this case, is the spike protein, said Cowden. She explained the SARS-CoV-2 virus requires a certain configuration of the spike protein so it can bind to ACE2 receptors, a type of enzyme, on human cells. “If the protein in the vaccine changes conformation so that that the [binding domain] RBD is not exposed, then the antibodies the body makes against the vaccine antigen won’t be targeted against it,” said Cowden. This may result in them not blocking the virus as well.

Why are we required to get two doses of some vaccines?

While single doses of vaccines prompt an immune response, Ryan explained that some vaccines must be taken in two doses to ensure a stronger and more long-lasting response in more people. In other words, while a primary shot will provide immunity, the second shot will boost it and build on the immunity from the first dose to generate a more durable response. “When scientists begin to develop a vaccine, they look for immune responses in laboratory studies and initial small studies in humans,” said Ryan. “The scientists then select vaccine doses and timing that are most promising, and these vaccine schedules are used in large clinical trials.” In the case of COVID-19 vaccines, she said there is only strong information available on the doses and timing used in the large trials, for which most products required two-dose schedules. How do we know vaccines are safe? According to Ryan, new medications and vaccines undergo rigorous safety reviews before they are approved for use in the United States. In fact, she said, initial studies must demonstrate safety before they demonstrate effectiveness. “Safety continues to be evaluated closely in all phases of study and even after a new vaccine is approved for general use,” she said. “The manufacturers and federal authorities, including the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention, FDA, and DOD, are evaluating the experiences of vaccine recipients very closely.” Another factor to consider is the commitment from regulatory groups like FDA, said Cowden. “They have strict standards and regulations that must be

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Vaccines FROM PAGE 7

followed to approve a vaccine or an antibody.” In fact, she added, the FDA made its standards tougher for COVID vaccines by setting minimum requirements for the effectiveness of products submitted for approval. “By doing this, the FDA has confirmed their strong commitment to only approving a vaccine that could offer immunity to the majority of the population.” In the case of COVID-19 vaccines that were recently authorized for use, more than 10,000 people received these products in studies, and more than 22 million doses had been administered in the United States under emergency use authorization as of Jan. 24, said Ryan. And although they are known to be reactogenic, or capable of causing a reaction, the side effects they cause - sore arms, headaches, fever - generally last no more than 1-3 days and can be treated with over-thecounter medicines, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. “All immediate allergic reactions have been successfully treated at the vaccination clinic sites,” she added. “No safety concerns have substantially changed the recommendation for the general public to receive these vaccines.” Serious adverse reactions are much rarer but tend to get much more media coverage, said Ryan. “Serious allergic reactions have occurred in about 1 in 100,000 people immediately after vaccine administration.” Still, “COVID-19 vaccines are among the most effective vaccines ever produced,” assured Ryan. “The safety of these vaccines will continue to be followed very closely, but people should feel confident in receiving these products.”

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Inspiring FROM PAGE 2

fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics tend to have more positive economic outcomes, such as higher median earnings, than those with degrees in non-STEM fields. However, the percentage of women represented in STEM careers continues to stay near only 40%. The women of the USSF and USAF who participated in this panel hope to inspire curiosity in these young ladies and help them understand their full potential, to hopefully see a rise in female representation in what is currently a male-dominated field. “Whether or not a career or interest in STEM is pursued, I would love for this panel to show that there are no limits to what these young women can do,” said McCaa. “If you had told 15-year-old me that I would be in the Space Force, operating our nation's satellites, I would have laughed; now I find myself making history.”

Thule FROM PAGE 3

about our Thule members getting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms,” said Lt. Col. Timothy J. Coker, 21 Medical Group chief of medical staff. “Due to its remote location, severe cases would need to be aeromedical evacuated to receive higher level care and the response time is highly variable based on weather conditions and nearby aircraft. The Moderna vaccine has good evidence that it reduces risk of symptomatic COVID-19 infections as well as prevents severe presentation which will allow us to protect our Thule members and allow them to continue their mission.” The P-S GAR public health emergency officer, Maj. William Timberlake, stated the coordination between units and installations are powerful. "This is a true expeditionary effort in its coordination with various entities and showcasing our flexibility and global reach in pushing the vaccine to the top of the world," Timberlake said. The vaccine is offered to U.S. military personnel on a voluntary basis under the Emergency Use Authorization. As each phase of the vaccination plan is complete and more vaccine becomes available, the plan will be expanded. DoD vaccination efforts are data-driven and informed by the CDC. “Thule Air Base’s critical space and force projection missions must endure,” said Col. David Hanson, Thule AB commander. “Key partners at Peterson AFB and McGuire AFB ensure our medical needs are met and delivering COVID-19 vaccinations to this remote but strategic location is not only difficult but necessary. Thanks to the 21st Medical Group, 87th MDG, 305th Aerial Port Squadron, and the Defense Logistics Agency for their continued support to Thule AB’s Arctic operations.”

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