The VMU-1 “Watchdog” Crews Took Control

U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) pilots and sensor operators from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1) conducted their first operational flight of GA-ASI's MQ-9A Reaper UAS in the Middle East on March 20.  The VMU-1 “Watchdog” crews took control of a Company Owned/Company Operated (COCO) MQ-9A supporting forward deployed Marines, while the GA-ASI team provided oversight. This achievement by the USMC comes shortly after 7,000 hours of COCO flight operations since Sept. 2018 was surpassed. “This achievement represents a unique milestone and example of the Marine Corps’ legacy of innovation,” says David R. Alexander, president, GA-ASI.

382 Search And Rescue Cases Resulting In 58 Lives Saved

The crew of Coast Guard Air Station Savannah conducted a change of command ceremony Friday at Air Station Savannah. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Brian Erickson transferred command of Coast Guard Air Station Savannah to Cmdr. Brendan Hilleary. Erickson served as the commanding officer of Air Station Savannah since June 2018 and has lead the unit to achieve exceptional results including a 99.7% dual B-0 readiness rate, executing more than 5,700 flight hours across 4,550 missions to include 382 search and rescue cases resulting in 58 lives saved and 66 lives assisted. Erickson guided Air Station Savannah through the unprecedented lapse in the appropriation of 2018, response to the capsizing o