AFCEC cultivates Air Force, Singapore partnership

  • Published
  • By Shannon Carabajal
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
As the United States shifts its strategic military focus to the Pacific, the Air Force is working with the Singapore Ministry of Defence to develop and improve air base technologies vital to the military mission of both nations.

In addition to military benefits for each country, a strong partnership with Singapore is critical to the stability and security of the entire region, said Joe Sciabica, Air Force Civil Engineer Center director.

"Singapore has a solid strategic alliance and relationship with the U.S. Capitalizing on that relationship, working together and learning from each other strengthens the defense of both countries and promotes peace throughout the Pacific," he said.

A group of Air Force senior leaders, including Sciabica; Dr. Mikel Miller, senior scientist for position, navigation and timing with the Air Force Research Lab Sensors Directorate; and Wesley Martin, international agreements specialist with the Air Force International Affairs Office, visited the country in October. Discussions during the visit mostly focused on airfield damage repair and air base beddown in today's threat environment.

Singapore plans to relocate its air base and its defense leaders are looking for help from the Air Force about how to design and build a secure, sustainable installation. For the AFCEC team, building an air base from scratch amidst current military threats is an intriguing problem. AFCEC plans to host a workshop early next year to continue the discussions.

"There is a neat opportunity here; we can learn a lot from each other if we collaborate on the beddown of a new mission capability," Sciabica said.

The trip to Singapore allowed Sciabica to continue fostering relationships he started in 2008 as the director of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Back then, AFRL managed the full life-cycle of air base systems, including everything needed to create a functioning base and build efficient, effective infrastructure. Sciabica first visited the country to identify how the nations could collaborate in those areas. He quickly learned Singapore was a well-educated country sharing many common goals and interests with the U.S.

"They have some of the best educated scientists and engineers in the world," he said.

The partnership flourished as the countries started working together in several areas including persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technologies and techniques, cognitive sciences and munitions. The mission of managing the full life-cycle of air base systems now belongs to the AFCEC Readiness Directorate's Research and Acquisition Division at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. As Sciabica moved from the AFRL to AFCEC, the responsibility of nurturing the U.S.-Singapore relationship moved with him.

During the visit, Singapore Minister for Defence Dr. Ng Eng Hen presented Sciabica with the Singapore Defence Technology Distinguished Fellowship. The award recognizes him for his "hands-on approach" in promoting defense technology cooperation between the U.S. and Singapore.

"Through (Sciabica's) active and unwavering support, collaboration roadmaps were established across a broad spectrum of technology areas including power and energy, cognitive sciences and munitions. Several joint projects have been established during his tenure that will bring value to the Air Forces of both countries while strengthening the foundation for future cooperation," the citation reads.

Sciabica and Miller also met with the next generation of Singaporean scientists and engineers by visiting a local high school focused on science, technology, engineering and math. The two shared stories about overcoming challenges and learning from failure, something Sciabica said is key to success in a STEM-focused career.

"If you go this path in life, it's all about change. Through that, through the process of discovery, through persistent work and research, you're going to be changing the status quo. That's the opportunity," he said.