MAFFS Mission Report

July 14th, 2008

Today’s Topic: MAFFS Missions Rates Rave Reviews from Ranking Defense Deputy

There has been no lack of well-deserved appreciation for the efforts of firefighters battling blazes across the state of California since the onslaught of lightning-caused wildfires last month.

As reported a few days ago, a visit from the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, drew rapt attention from the gathered personnel. Governor Schwarzenegger took the time to personally thank and shake the hand of everyone nearby. It is not every day that a well-known movie star—one who is instantly recognized worldwide—drops in to see them.

The military public affairs staff and the MAFFS Incident Base Public Information Officer have had their hands full with frequent visits from television and print media reporters. It seems everyone likes big, powerful-sounding airplanes, especially when there is a small air force of them so close to the major media market of the state’s capital. And then there’s that attraction to pilots…

But a special visitor on Saturday (July 12 th) certainly got our attention when someone whose opinions and recommendations can lead right into the Oval Office, flew out from our nation’s capital to witness this multi-agency—and what has become an international—firefighting airtanker base.

Mr. Pete Verga, who is only a couple of steps below the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, traveled across the country to see what Verga himself characterized as “good working relations among an interagency group of people.” The morning briefing provided a good microcosm of the big picture with presentations by the military, CAL FIRE and U.S. Forest Service incident personnel.

As the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs, the current National Guard activation is directly the purview of Mr. Verga. His title not only indicates his responsibilities but also reveals the challenge it must have been for the person painting his title across his office door (and quite possibly onto the adjacent wall).

Secretary Verga advises high-ranking Department of Defense officials on issues dealing with homeland defense activities and regional security matters for the countries of the Western Hemisphere. He deals directly with the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA.

Mr. Verga also has ties to the Golden State in that he graduated from the University of La Verne and is also a visiting professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.

After expressing his thanks, Mr. Verga said, “I wish the American public could see what is going on here.”

Accompanying Mr. Verga were Brigadier General Ellsworth of the California National Guard and Brigadier General Rock of U.S. Northern Command, along with other military dignitaries.

Tom Harbour , Director of Fire and Aviation represented the U. S. Forest Service, while CAL FIRE Assistant Region Chief Del Walters attended on behalf of Director Grijalva.

While Governor Schwarzenegger was not able to visit the base again, Cynthia Bryant from his office stood in his stead for the visit.

The morning briefing kicked off with a typical incident operational briefing and presentations on the statewide situation, weather and other important information for the upcoming shift, such as mission tactics for the MAFFS pilots and flight crews.

Les Dixon, who is the MAFFS Base Manager, gave his appreciation and expectation for continued safe and efficient airtanker loading operations in the “support of our brothers and sisters on the firelines.” Dixon said, commenting on the sometimes-hectic conditions on the ramp and pit areas when multiple MAFFS aircrafts are on “load and return” orders, “we are open for business and business is good.”

That was followed by Mission Commander Lieutenant Colonel Tom Jacky releasing the troops with, “It looks like we got some launch orders…let’s go hit some planes.”