Volume 3, Issue 12
December 1, 2023
In This Issue... Lone Star Flyer
LEADERSHIP CAPT Beau Hufstetler Commanding Officer CDR Clayton Johnson Executive Officer Ms. Sandy Owens Public Affairs Officer
LONE STAR FLYER STAFF
JRB Fort Worth 4 NAS Change of Command
6 Around The Base Incidents in NAS 8 UAS JRB Fort Worth Airspace Works Receives 12 Public Awards
19 FFSC Upcoming Classes 2
MC2(SW) Kay Richards Editor & Content Creator AM2(AW) Oscar Diaz Content Creator
The NASJRBFTW Lone Star Flyer is an authorized monthly publication for members of the DoD. Contents within the newsletter are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the DoD, or the U.S. Navy. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Commanding Officer, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas. Questions and concerns may be directed to the installation public affairs office at 817-782-7815 or FTWO.PAO@navy.mil The Lone Star Flyer features base-wide news, announcements, upcoming MWR events and more. The Lone Star Flyer is open to submissions which can be sent directly to FTWO.PAO@navy.mil by Thursday of the last full week of the month. Include “FOR NEWSLETTER” in subject line. Be clear and concise, but include as much relevant details as possible: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY or HOW. Submissions may include photos, flyers, graphics, text, etc... DO NOT submit unverified information. DO NOT include personal emails, numbers or PII on any flyers or graphics.
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Master Chief Master-at-Arms Cesar Rodriguez, fellow Dallas Police Officer
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Josh Rodriguez, Patricio's former partner.
Passing the Torch: Honoring a Legacy of Leadership and Service U.S. Navy Story by Sandy Owens
U.S. Navy Photos by MC2 Kay Richards
NAS JRB FORT WORTH, TEXAS — CAPT Mark McLean bid a farewell to Naval Air Station (NAS) Joint Reserve Base (JRB) Fort Worth on Nov. 16, as he retired after 27 years of dedicated service. The retirement ceremony also marked a change in command, as CAPT Beau Hufstetler assumed the role of Commanding Officer of NAS JRB Fort Worth.
grants, securing $3.7 million in state and municipality funding. In recognition of the importance of Sailors' well-being, support was also given to the installation for an artificial turf football field, enhancing the quality of life and fitness. Additionally, annual civic and media engagement days were implemented to promote the mission and impact of the installation.
The ceremony was held at the Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 59 "Lone Star Express" hangar and was attended by military personnel, family members, friends, local dignitaries, and Congresswoman Kay Granger. The event commemorated McLean's achievements and marked the beginning of Hufstetler's tour as Commanding Officer.
“Mark, I know you would be the first to attribute the success of this command to the Sailors and civilians of NAS JRB Fort Worth. There are a lot of great accomplishments, and I can unequivocally attest that you and the staff have had a huge impact to the Navy and our joint force,” said Steffen.
Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command, Deputy Commander, Navy Reserve Force, Rear Adm. Michael Steffen spoke as the ceremony’s guest speaker. Steffen applauded the accomplishments of McLean and his team during his tenure as Commanding Officer. Under McLean's leadership, the installation successfully recovered from a devastating winter storm and he oversaw a $4.8 million emergent runway repair. Furthermore, he championed defense economic adjustment assistance
McLean, who has served as the Commanding Officer since 2020, expressed heartfelt gratitude towards the support he received from elected officials, staff members, and his family, throughout his career and tenure at NAS JRB Fort Worth. "I am going to express a lot of thank you’s, because commanding this small military city for three and a half years and ensuring the success of the base's missions has never been about individual effort. It's not even a team effort, that completely resides within the confines of the federal boundaries,” said
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McLean. “Our communities have made this naval air station a destination of choice for tens of thousands over the years.”
"My charge is that we move forward with a bias for action, prioritizing our mission, pursuing excellence in every facet of our operations, and caring well for our shipmates Hufstetler, an experienced aviator and leader, and their families. We must continue to expressed his excitement and dedication to strengthen relationships with our local continuing the legacy of excellence at the communities, as they are foundational to our base. success," said Hufstetler. "I've had the opportunity to meet with our headquarters staff, leaders of our Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force tenant commands, and a number of our city officials. All of whom have shared their mission, challenges, and vision for this city and this base. These people are sharp and focused; it's what makes this base and city unique,” said Hufstetler. “People want to work here, they want to be a part of this community, and they enthusiastically support our military. They will do whatever it takes to support our team."
With the conclusion of the change of command, World War II veteran, Don Graves performed ‘God Bless America,’ followed by McLean being piped ashore by the side boys for the last time alongside his wife and children. NAS JRB Fort Worth is a key military installation in North Texas, providing support to warfighters in the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Army. The change in command signals a new chapter for the base, as it continues to play a vital role in national defense and military operations.
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Lone Star Flyer
T H E B A S E
Above & Right: Airmen from the 136th Airlift Wing, Texas Air National Guard, and 301st Fighter Wing, along with members of the Dallas Mavericks put together bags of food items for a free Thanksgiving meal. Air National Guard photos by Mrs. Julie Briden-Garcia
301st Fighter Wing members attended Fort Worth Chamber's “Salute to Service” breakfast. The event aimed to empower service members and veterans in their entrepreneurial and business endeavors. Courtesy Photos 6
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Right & Below: MWR hosts Thanksgiving feast for active duty service members living in base housing. Courtesy Photos
T H E
Right & Below: Runners participate in the 2023 Turkey Trot 5k hosted by MWR. Courtesy Photos
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B A S E
Rise In Unauthorized UAS Incidents In NAS JRB Fort Worth Airspace
U.S. Navy Story by Sandy Owens
NAS JRB FORT WORTH, TEXAS — There has been a surge in unauthorized Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) within the Naval Air Station (NAS) Joint Reserve Base (JRB) Fort Worth airspace. In recent months, infractions have jumped from 200 to 700 infractions per month. "We do not for any reason believe that there is hostile intent in flying a drone within our airspace," said Mark McLean, former NAS JRB Fort Worth Commanding Officer. "The majority of the ones we're seeing are just the younger crowd that's owning and operating these that don't know any better." Majority of the recreational drone users are between 18 to 24-year-olds who are likely unaware they are flying in a controlled airspace.
"We have aircraft departing and arriving, and they're talking to a controller at that tower to make sure they're safe in the most critical phase of flight; when they have their landing gear and their flaps down, they're vulnerable to a bird that might strike them or some other kind of foreign object damage that they might encounter in the air," said McLean. In 2021, a T-45 mishap occurred when a bird unexpectedly entered the aircraft's engine during a routine training flight. This incident highlights the potential dangers associated with unauthorized objects near single-engine aircraft.
"Birds are made up of about 70% water. That investigation revealed that was a four-and-ahalf-pound buzzard that went down the intake of that engine," McLean said. "Knowing that it's made up of mostly water and drones are not made up of mostly water, you can parallel those two potential scenarios and understand that a drone in a single-engine fighter aircraft can put not only the pilot in harm's way but the public that resides in that airspace." The NAS JRB Fort Worth’s Class D Airspace map illustrates restricted drone flying areas, where you can fly with authorization, and where base permission is not required. "Between us and the FAA, we can either approve or disapprove flight inside the Class Delta airspace," said McLean. NAS JRB Fort Worth air traffic controllers watch for unauthorized drones and relay that information to pilots. McLean explained that recent state legislation allows law enforcement to issue tickets to drone operators who fly in controlled airspaces. "We'll work with our federal law enforcement here on the base; that's NCIS. And NCIS will work with local law enforcement to go seek out where that operator is," McLean explained.
NAS JRB Fort Worth Class D Airspace Map
Lone Star Flyer
Veterans Park Receives F-4E Phantom White Settlement presented NAS JRB Fort Worth Captain Mark “Burger” McLean with a commemorative US Navy Badge and plaque for his assistance with procurement of the F-4E Phantom II jet for Veterans Park. Courtesy Photos
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Service Members Tour The Dallas Star Courtesy Photos
Public Works Receives Environmental excellence Awards U.S. Navy Photos By AM2 Oscar Diaz
On November 1st, NAS JRB Fort Worth’s Public Works department received the Pollution Prevention Award and Pretreatment Stewardship Award from the City of Fort Worth's Environmental Excellence Awards. Accepting the awards were LCDR Saul Perez and Ms. Jenna Thomas.
RSS Training U.S. Navy Photos By AM2 Oscar Diaz
NAS JRB Fort Worth hosted a training session with the Texas Department of State Health Services' Public Health Region, who joined forces with their county and federal partners for an interactive Receive, Stage, Store (RSS) training. The training focused on setting up and operating a RSS site – a crucial distribution center for life-saving medical supplies in the event of a public health and medical disaster. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) team traveled all the way from Georgia to deliver hands-on training, hosted at the Lone Star Center and RSS Warehouse.
Navy 10- Miler U.S. Navy Photos by MC2 Kay Richards
Honoray Commanders and Texas Air National Guard Citizen Airmen participate in ESGR Photos by Mrs. Julie Briden-Garcia & Ms. Kat Bailey
More than two dozen employers, Honoray Commanders and Texas Air National Guard Citizen Airmen participated in the first ESGR (Employer for the Guard and Reserve) Bosslift the 136th Airlift Wing has conducted since their C-130J Super Hercules conversion. ESGR is the lead U.S. Defense Department program promoting cooperation and understanding betwseen civilian employers and their National guard and Reserve employees.
Lone Star Flyer
UPCOMING EVENTS
navymwrfortworth.com
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