93 AGOW leaders synchronize modernization efforts at the Spartan Senate
With units spread across approximately 20 installations, the summit provides wing leaders an opportunity to identify challenges and prioritize ways to integrate capabilities across the enterprise.
“The Spartan Senate is our semiannual leadership summit where the entire 93d AGOW enterprise synchronizes our vector,” said Col. Jeffrey Mack, 93d AGOW commander. “When you are spread across 20 installations, it’s easy for groups to operate in isolated lanes. We want to break down those silos and explore high-yield areas, where our groups can directly partner with one another.”
One area of focus was the development of the Air Force Tactical Grid (USAF-TG), a network designed to deliver Air Force network services with cloud-hosted command and control applications to tactical networking kits. For the 93d AGOW, the capability is expected to become the primary method for delivering these services to every tactical networking kit within the wing.
Once authorized, the wing plans to transition its networking kits in phases, beginning with testing, followed by low-priority training kits and eventually high-priority deployed kits. The transition will also require additional training and continued network sustainment.
In addition to network modernization, leaders discussed expanding the wing’s small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) and counter-small unmanned aircraft systems capabilities (C-sUAS). The effort is intended to provide organic reconnaissance capabilities at the tactical level, while supporting the specific requirements of Tactical Air Control Parties, Combat Weather teams and Base Defense Groups.
“The 93 AGOW has the ability to fulfill TACP, weather and BDG-specific sUAS and C-sUAS needs that no other wing in the Air Force has under one roof,” said Staff Sgt. Brandon Redden, assigned to the 93d AGOW.
Building those capabilities will require continued training for personnel and program managers, along with compliance with Air Force requirements and Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Leaders also emphasized the need to continually adapt the capability as threats and operational requirements evolve.
The summit also addressed potential changes to Air Force weather support in response to the ongoing Army Transformation Initiative (ATI), a U.S Army modernization strategy that was directed by the Secretary of Defense in April of 2025.
Lt. Col. Matthew Lantz, 3d Combat Weather Squadron (3d CWS) Commander, said changes to Army organizational relationships resulting from the ATI could affect Detachment 1, 3d CWS at Fort Carson, Colorado, following the 4th Infantry Division’s move under U.S. Army Pacific.
While combat weather continues to be in lockstep with their aligned Army units, discussions are occurring to broaden forecasters’ capabilities for future fights by adding additional exercise and training opportunities outside of their usually aligned Army taskings. Work continues on solidifying combat weather certification process that bridges Air Force requirements onto the Army Regionally Aligned Readiness and Modernization Model phases. While individual modernization efforts were discussed, leaders emphasized that the broader goal is to integrate the wing’s capabilities rather than develop them independently.
Chief Master Sgt. Andrew Shone, 93d AGOW command chief, said the wing is exploring ways to bring Tactical Air Control Parties, Combat Weather and Base Defense capabilities together into more interoperable ground elements.
“We want to move away from piecemeal tasking and build fully integrated Spartan combat elements that can dominate the forward edge,” Shone said.
By bringing leaders and capabilities together, the Spartan Senate provides the wing with a forum to align modernization efforts, identify opportunities for collaboration and establish a common direction for the future.
“By locking shields across these core areas, we ensure our ground teams can communicate, maneuver and dominate the forward edge anywhere the nation calls,” Shone said.
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