Eglin Air Force Base Welcomes New Commander

Eglin Air Force Base welcomed its new commander, Brigadier General Mark A. Massaro, in a ceremony held at the Eglin Climatic Hangar. Amidst dignitaries and airmen, Brigadier General Jeffrey Geraghty was relieved of his duties and will move on to serve at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Niceville Man Arrested For Sending Classified Eglin Documents Illegally

Paul J. Freeman, a 68-year-old resident of Niceville, has been indicted on charges of unauthorized possession and transmission of classified national defense information. The indictment alleges that Freeman shared sensitive information about U.S. Air Force aircraft and weapons with unauthorized individuals on multiple occasions between November 2020 and March 2021. If convicted, Freeman faces up to ten years in prison for each of the nine counts.

Slain Airman’s Mother Lays Blame At Okaloosa Sheriff’s Feet

In an emotionally charged NAACP town hall meeting, Chantemekki Fortson delivered a powerful speech condemning Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden’s handling of her son Roger’s fatal shooting by former deputy Eddie Duran. Fortson called for Aden’s defeat in the August primary election, citing a loss of trust and accountability. The town hall, attended by approximately 250 people, also featured updates on the ongoing investigation and discussions on broader issues like racial bias and Christian Nationalism.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Could This Move Spell the Beginning of the End of The Okaloosa Housing Crisis?

The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to send a letter to Eglin Air Force Base Commander General Jeffery Geraghty, seeking his support to acquire a 200-acre parcel currently serving as Eglin’s golf course. The county aims to use this land for affordable housing and commercial space in a community with a median home sale price of $450,000. This initiative follows a collaborative meeting in March between local government leaders and the Air Force to discuss potential land acquisitions.

Can You Hear ‘Em? Eglin Roars to Life for Night Flights.

96th Test Wing

The 58th Fighter Squadron will perform night flying operations over Eglin Air Force Base and surrounding areas on May 20-22 between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Night flying is an essential requirement for the 58th Fighter Squadron training operations. However, night operations could mean a couple of evenings littered with the roar of aircraft flying overhead for civilians.

Hundreds at Hurlburt Gather to Remember AC-130J Gunner Killed By Okaloosa Sheriff’s Deputy

Scores of airmen, civilians, and contractors descended on Hurlburt Monday morning to pay their respects to Senior Airman Roger Fortson in a common-access-card-only event held at the base. Hundreds of airmen attended the ceremonyβ€”so many overflow bleachers had to be set out on the flight line. The balance of the 4th Special Operations Squadron, Fortson’s unit, escorted the Fortson family to their seats at the memorial. Colonel Patrick Dierig gave the keynote address, aiming to help heal the airmen of the 4th Special Operations Squadron and beyond. The event was broadcast live so deployed airmen could also watch.