Military and the bases

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — The Navy Experimental Diving Unit received its eighth Meritorious Unit Commendation for achievements in experimental diving research and operational support from Aug. 1, 2020, through Aug. 31, 2024.

Nearly eight years after Hurricane Michael devastated the installation, Tyndall Air Force Base officially restored a permanent place of worship with the dedication of a new 22,000-square-foot chapel facility on Sept. 9.

The 325th Fighter Wing Equal Opportunity office and the Department of the Air Force’s Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Program hosted Tyndall Air Force Base's first NDR workshop, Aug. 20-21, to ensure personnel remain fully prepared for their warfighting missions.

The 325th Fighter Wing deployed to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, for Weapon System Evaluation Program-Combat Hammer 26.07 to test and evaluate the F-35A Lightning II's air-to-ground precision-guided munitions capability using live ordnance. The 10-day exercise integrated pilots, maintainers, and munitions Airmen into a streamlined, high-tempo team, building critical readiness and technical proficiency in a simulated contested environment.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Vicente Thompkins earned the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and the Northwest Florida "Big of the Year" award for dedicating over 3,000 hours to youth mentorship off-duty. Driven by the lack of a male role model in his own childhood, Thompkins balances his military career with coaching youth football and mentoring local teenagers to actively bring the Air Force core value of "Service Before Self" to life.

Under Secretary of the Air Force Matt Lohmeier visited Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Aug. 13, 2026, to observe how the 325th Fighter Wing is optimizing operational readiness while simultaneously executing a multi-billion-dollar rebuild.

Tyndall was selected as one of only 12 installations service-wide to host the new training, which focuses on expanding training accessibility and providing riders with enhanced decision-making and risk-management skills.

Commanders and senior leaders from across Fifteenth Air Force gathered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, July 28-29, 2026, for a leadership summit aimed at aligning strategic priorities and accelerating combat readiness across the numbered air force.

During a historic ceremony on July 27, 2026, the 325th Fighter Wing inactivated the 95th Fighter Generation Squadron and reactivated the historic 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron to transition its F-35A Lightning II operations. Col. Dennis Knight presided over the event, highlighting the 95th FGS’s critical two-year role in reestablishing Tyndall Air Force Base as a combat-capable installation following its multi-year rebuild. Maj. Donovan Ricks assumed command of the newly reactivated 325th AMXS, emphasizing to his Airmen that while the unit name and patch have changed, their core maintenance mission remains untouched. This reorganization aligns Tyndall's maintenance assets with the Air Force’s broader structural modernization efforts to best support global combatant commanders.

U.S. Airmen and civilian personnel assigned to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, sharpened their emergency response skills July 17-23 during an annual hurricane readiness exercise designed to ensure preparedness and mission sustainment capabilities.

In their first official gathering as the wing's command team, U.S. Air Force Col. Ryan Thulin, 325th Fighter Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Erik Bensen, 325th FW command chief, emphasized readiness, personal responsibility and the installation's ongoing transformation into an operational F-35A Lightning II wing.

Developed by scientists and engineers within the Subsea & Seabed Warfare and Maritime Operations Department, the Mission Effectiveness & Assessment with Subsea Recognition (MEASUR) project leverages Naval Innovative Science and Engineering (NISE) funding to automatically and accurately assess physical damage to underwater objects.

The Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) craft provides the Navy with a unique combination of range, speed, and amphibious versatility to complete missions, and four Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) civilian employees were recognized for their efforts in ensuring this capability was fully operational and ready to support the fleet. For their contributions, Garrett Fulton was awarded the Department of the Navy Civilian Service Commendation Medal, while Mitchell Martin, Mark Williams, and Louis Barba each received the Department of the Navy Civilian Service Achievement Medal.

A partnership between NSWC Panama City Division and the University of Iowa is focused on quantifying the physical strain sailors endure while operating in full individual protective equipment. The project is funded by the Naval Engineering Education Consortium (NEEC), which targets the Navy’s technological needs by partnering on research with universities across the U.S., creating opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience alongside Navy engineers at each of 10 Warfare Centers Divisions.

A binational color guard, comprising U.S. Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force members from NORAD, publicly demonstrated the trust and integrated defense partnership between the United States and Canada during a Tampa Bay Lightning NHL game.

Panama City Beach, Fla. – Naval Support Activity Panama City held a change of command ceremony on Thursday, February 12, where Captain Michael K. Mosi was relieved by Commander Tristan V. Oliveria. Mosi has been the commanding officer since February 2023 and leaves behind a legacy of community involvement that will shape the installation’s relationship with the local region for years to come.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is supporting a multi-agency effort to ensure the safety and security of the airspace during Super Bowl LX, scheduled for Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

The 601st Air Operations Center welcomed a new commander during a ceremony held here on January 15, 2026.

For four decades, Dr. Kerry Commander has been a pivotal figure at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), navigating the ever-evolving currents of naval technology and strategic defense. He has numerous technical achievements that have laid the foundation for several fleet programs including science and technology, mine countermeasures and expeditionary warfare. He has mentored and impacted scientists and engineers within the undersea community and has left an indelible mark in NSWC PCD's 80 year legacy of supporting the U.S. Navy. From his arrival in September 1985 as a research physicist to his current role as chief technology officer (CTO), Dr. Commander's career is a testament of dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the warfighter.

John Kremar, NSWC PCD Diving and Life Support lead engineer, combines his work proficiency and passion with persistence and perseverance to achieve not only mission success but also a personal milestone. By day, he helps design and produce life support equipment for a variety of Navy and non-navy sponsors to increase divers’ capabilities and safety while performing their missions. Off the clock, he recently completed this year's IRONMAN Florida triathlon and has qualified to compete in the upcoming IRONMAN World Championship in 2026

Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division spearheaded an effort to help the U.S. Navy develop the Quickstrike Extended Range (QS-ER) Program to counter the threat of stealthy submarines deploying advanced mines in shallow waters, which could disrupt critical shipping lanes. This working group allowed subject matter experts including engineers, logisticians and sailors to develop advanced aerial mining capabilities such as training, deployment and process improvement. The program is centered around the MK 64 MOD 5 Underwater Mine and aims to ensure sailors are well-prepared to use and maintain the new system, enhancing the Navy's ability to protect vital sea lanes and maintain maritime superiority.

Nicole Stevens, Simplified Acquisitions Procedures (SAP) branch head at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), received the Department of the Navy Civilian Service Achievement Medal for her exceptional contributions to the command's contracting department (Code 02) Sep. 26.

The Gulf Coast Tech Bridge, in partnership with NavalX and the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic, stood up the Bayou Tech Node, last July with the goal of sourcing commercial technology and solutions to solve naval challenges faster. The GCTB is a strategic partnership between the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Naval Research Laboratory – Stennis, NIWC LANT, and the Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. This collaboration encompasses the full spectrum of activities in the littoral and marine battlespace, from basic research and development to fleet operational support and maintenance. This effort also acts as the Gulf Coast region's super connector between government, industry, and academia to address critical Naval challenges.

A strategic investment in the future of naval warfare ceremonially began onboard Naval Support Activity Panama City, Fla., as Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division celebrated the groundbreaking of its Subsea & Seabed Warfare Facility, July 9. The new 25,000+ square-foot Subsea & Seabed Warfare facility will serve as a hub for research, development, testing, and evaluation of the autonomous unmanned systems that are revolutionizing how the Navy operates beneath the waves. This facility will allow the Navy to develop the next generation of undersea technologies to deliver relevant solutions in the littorals from seabed to space: For Today, Tomorrow, and the Navy after Next. The official party was comprised of Congressman Neal Dunn, Florida's 2nd Congressional District, Capt. Paul Stence, Jr., NSWC PCD commanding officer, Dr. Peter Adair, NSWC PCD technical director, and Commander Michael Mosi, Naval Support Activity Panama City commanding officer.

Neil Patterson, a senior underwater breathing apparatus technician at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Diving Fleet Systems Branch, brings more than 40 years of diving experience that provides him with a wealth of practical knowledge. He impacts the depot's ability to ensure that divers have reliable equipment needed to operate safely and effectively in the demanding underwater environment. This is one way NSWC PCD maintains, modernizes and sustains platforms to support the fleet.

Navy Experimental Diving Unit commemorated a 50-year anniversary of the unit's Ocean Simulation Facility May 23, 2023. The OSF is the only facility in the United States that allows Navy divers to conduct experimental dives. Located in Panama City, Florida, NEDU conducts research, testing, and evaluation of diving and hyperbaric equipment, procedures, and systems to improve the safety and effectiveness of Navy divers and special operations forces. NEDU is an echelon III command aligned to the Supervisor of Diving and Salvage, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and employs 150 military and civilians.

Panama City Beach, Fla. – Naval Support Activity (NSA) Panama City Fire and Emergency Services recently received a unique training opportunity to enhance their shipboard firefighting capabilities. Alabama Fire College provided a Marine Firefighter Course, which is the only ProBoard certified school with a mobile class that can teach Marine Firefighters on-site.

Panama City Beach, Fla. – Naval Support Activity Panama City Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Michael Mosi, visited Patronis Elementary School on Thursday to read to fourth graders as part of the school's literacy month.

Panama City Beach, Fla. – Naval Support Activity (NSA) Panama City was honored to welcome the Commander, Navy Installation Command, Vice Admiral Yancy Lindsey on March 27, 2023, while he visited the base to meet with base leadership and take a tour. During his visit VADM Lindsey made a stop at the NSA Panama City galley to sign a proclamation declaring April as the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) awareness month.

For military families being able to find the educational resources they need or information regarding opportunities that will help their children reach academic success can be difficult. On average Navy Sailors and their families move every three years. When it’s time for a military family to relocate, School Liaison Officers are used to help the transition go as smoothly as possible for their children.

Local businesses in Bay County joined together recently to show their appreciation to the men and women who served or are currently serving our community and country. The quarterly Veterans & First Responders appreciation lunch was held at Texas Roadhouse in Panama City Beach on Tuesday July 19, 2022 and was brought together by a local veteran that wanted to give back to his community.

On November 19, 2021, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Seaman Second Class Tceollyar Simmons, missing since World War II.

The Navy’s premier diving school held a change of command ceremony on Friday, June 10, where CDR Erich Frandrup was relieved by CDR Troy Lawson.

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – U.S. Air Force Col. Clayton Schaefer took command of the 601st Air Operations Center from U.S. Air Force Col. Greg Krane during a ceremony held here on June 1, 2022.

Rear Adm. Wesley McCall, commander, Navy Region Southeast visited Naval Support Activity Panama City, Sept. 15, to meet with senior leadership and tour installation facilities.

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. –The 101st Air and Space Operations Group welcomed a new commander during a ceremony held here on July 14, 2021.

Naval Support Activity Panama City conducted a force protection exercise, April 19-23.

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Undeterred by the current COVID-19 global pandemic, members of the 601st Air Operations Center and 101st Air and Space Operations Group are hard-at-work to ensure the skies are safe over the continental United States.

Col. Matthew Jones assumed command of the 101st Air and Space Operations Group during a ceremony, October 25 held on the 601st Air Operations Center’s Operations Floor. During the ceremony, an age-old military tradition of passing of flags symbolized the leadership change as Col. Jones assumed command of the 101st AOG. Col. Michael Valle, Assistant Adjutant General-Air and Florida Air National Guard commander, presided over the ceremony.

By Mary McHale CONR-1 AF (AFNORTH) Public Affairs Citing the collective invaluable contributions of individuals to the mission of the Continental U.S. NORAD Region-1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern) enterprise, the CONR-1 AF (AFNORTH) Commander shared his thoughts on the topic during the organization’s 2018 annual awards ceremony March 27.

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Operational mission activities at 1st Air Force and the 601st Air Operations Center returned back to 100 percent Thursday at 9:27 p.m. after 72 days operating from an alternate location due to Hurricane Michael.

MONTENEGRO - U.S. Navy Divers from the Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) in Panama City, Florida recently traveled to Montenegro to provide two weeks of capacity building training to Montenegrin Navy Divers, EOD Technicians, Seals, and Medics.

PANAMA CITY, FL – The Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) is joining forces with the NEDU Reserve Detachment to strengthen diver readiness and improve fleet support capabilities. For the last 12 years, the NEDU Reserve Detachment has been working under NOSC Chicago and providing long-distance support to NEDU. In August 2018, the NEDU Reserve Detachment detached from NOSC Chicago and relocated NOSC Pensacola, where they will be collocated with NEDU in Panama City, FL. The close proximity will allow for increased collaboration between the two units and will create a high velocity learning environment for Reservists and Active Duty to improve training and maximize knowledge sharing. Overall, this change will maximize NR NEDU’s ability to support NEDU, which in turn will allow NEDU to better execute their mission of supporting the U.S. Navy Diving Fleet through biomedical research and independent testing and evaluation of equipment and procedures.