Home Care In Kirtland AFB, NM

Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force visited Sept. 3 to meet with Guardians, gain a deeper understanding of local space operations, and underscore the installation’s growing role in advancing national defense through innovation and enlisted force development.

During his visit, Bentivegna received mission overviews from and the , toured key facilities, and hosted a town hall with Guardians. The trip emphasized Kirtland AFB’s strategic importance as home to approximately 1,200 Guardians supporting diverse missions that safeguard the nation’s access to and freedom of action in space.

“Visiting bases like Kirtland allows me to witness firsthand the incredible work our Guardians are doing,” Bentivegna said. “These visits serve as a reminder of the sacrifices that our Guardians make daily, and I am beyond honored to witness it and advocate on their behalf. The work being done here, from research and development to operational support and joint integration, is vital to our success in the space domain and our ability to protect the nation.”

Bentivegna’s discussions with Guardians centered on enlisted development, professional growth opportunities, and the importance of maintaining a strong culture of resilience and readiness. He highlighted the critical role of enlisted leaders in shaping the future of the Space Force, noting that their expertise and innovation are vital to driving mission success, and his pride to witness their impact firsthand as their advocate.

The visit also reinforced the importance of collaboration between SSC, AFRL, and partner organizations at Kirtland AFB, which are leading research, development, and operational efforts to maintain U.S. space superiority. From advancing satellite technology to pioneering new space systems, these missions directly contribute to national security and the joint fight.

“What truly stands out about Kirtland is its holistic approach to space dominance - innovation to warfighting,” Bentivegna said. “Seeing the cutting-edge research at AFRL and the operational focus of SSC, I understand how we are advancing directed energy, prototype satellite operations, and . These are foundational in our ability to deter threats and maintain the peaceful use of space, which underpins everything we do as a Space Force. Kirtland is at the forefront of creating our competitive advantage in space.”

Kirtland Air Force Base continues to stand at the forefront of space innovation, advancing critical missions while shaping the next generation of enlisted leaders in the United States Space Force.

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --

Kirtland Air Force Base generated a , reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of the Albuquerque metro economy and a strategic hub for national defense and innovation.

This total includes the salaries of more than 22,000 military and civilian employees, benefits for more than 70,000 employees, family members, veterans and retirees, and $1.079 billion in contracts awarded to small businesses. In all, Kirtland supports 12% of the regional economy and 12.2% of the city’s total workforce.

Increase in economic footprint: The base’s total economic footprint—upholding missions across national security, space, energy, and scientific research—resulted in an estimated $2.1 billion in local job creation, creating 56,687 jobs across Albuquerque through employment, household spending, and indirect employment.

“Kirtland’s mission is national defense, but our heart is here in New Mexico,” said Col. Justin Secrest, 377th Air Base Wing and Installation commander. “Every job created, every contract awarded, and every dollar spent reflects our commitment to being a good neighbor and a pillar of economic strength in Albuquerque.”

Championing small businesses: One of Kirtland’s key economic contributions in FY24 came through its continued investment in small business partnerships, awarding $1.079 billion to small businesses in FY24.

These businesses provide critical services across construction, logistics, IT, and advanced technology, directly supporting the mission of the Department of Defense and strengthening the local economy.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our supply chain and our community,” said James O-Quinn, 377th Mission Support Group Director of Contracting. “By investing in local and diverse suppliers, we expand our capabilities while helping these companies grow and thrive.”

A force in the community: Beyond its economic impact, Kirtland’s presence is felt throughout Albuquerque. Service members and civilian employees contribute to local schools, nonprofit organizations, and public events. The base also partners with local institutions to support STEM education, workforce development, and community resilience.

With at least 108 mission partners, including the Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Rapid Capabilities Office, and Sandia National Laboratories, Kirtland continues to advance national objectives in space, deterrence, and directed energy—all while keeping its economic and community values rooted right here in New Mexico.

“We are proud to serve,” said Secrest. “And we’re equally proud to support the economic strength and future of Albuquerque and the state of New Mexico.”

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque is no stranger to seeing planes take to the sky and the newest, AC-130J Ghostrider model of the U.S. Air Force’s AC-130 gunship is no different.

A nine-person crew calls the Ghostrider their office. The aircraft is $165 million but Lt. Col. Abderhalden, the assistant director of operations for the 73rd Special Operations Squadron, says the crew members onboard are the most important piece.

“The machine can do incredible things, but it cannot do those incredible things without incredibly talented and professional air crew operating the machine,” said Abderhalden.

The crew goes through 12-hour days. Each member plays a crucial role in executing the unique dance of the gunship.

Leading the charge is the pilot and co-pilot.

“You’re in charge of the entire airplane,” said Capt. Bachmann, an AC-130J pilot. “You have to know what everyone else is doing. You have to know their jobs in and out so that you can back them up and make sure they’re doing the right thing at the right time. You can’t miss anything.”

Then, there’s the weapon and combat systems officers. They keep track of almost everything, from mission management to when to fire on identified targets.

“We are at the front of the plane doing navigation, fuel planning, threat planning. And then we also go to the back and we do the weaponeering. So that’s the gun and the PGM engagements and kind of the battle management side of it,” said Capt. Jarvis, a weapon systems officer.

The guns themselves, both the 30mm and the 105mm, are manned by the aerial gunners. The 30mm is a chain-fed automatic cannon that fires about 200 rounds per minute. The 105mm cannon on the other hand has to be manually loaded by the gunners.

“The rounds are about 45 pounds and we carry about 80 rounds, so it does get tiring after a while. We can load about 10 rounds per minute,” said Staff Sgt. Bibler, a gunner on the AC-130J. “We also have to think about firing limitations, recoil and heat when we’re managing the guns too.”

The recoil of the gun will move the plane about eight feet in flight, creating even more of a challenge for everyone on board. However, challenges like those come with being part of the team. It is more than worth it for these crew members.

“Not many people in their lifetime ever get to say they shoot a gun out of the plane, and it hits the ground. So it’s really unique, and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Jarvis said.

“We’re shooting on five millimeter cannon at 10,000 feet and blowing stuff up. So it’s really cool. It’s really special. It’s not something you can do anywhere else,” said Bachmann.

While they may not be part of the crew in the air, more important members of the team are the mechanics and maintainers that inspect and repair the planes every single day.

“We go throughout the week doing scheduled maintenance as required, to inspect the planes to make sure they’re ready to fly,” said Staff Sgt. Wolford, an aircraft unit mechanic. “Also, as the flying schedule demands, we come out and prep the planes, give them a good last look over and make sure they’re ready for our boys to get home.”

Countless hours of studying, training and flying go into executing the Ghostrider’s mission. They support our nation’s Special Operations forces on the ground when they need backup.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to be the person that they call on when they need extra help, and so we bring the biggest guns to a gunfight,” said Abderhalden.

Of course, to continue successfully fulfilling that mission, the next generation of crew members has to be trained. That’s why there is a new training unit for the AC-130J at Kirtland AFB as well.

“Training the next generation is the most important thing we could be doing in the Air Force right now, and trying to instill our knowledge that we’ve accumulated over the last 20 years. Making sure that they have the lessons that we’ve learned the hard way and setting them up for success so that they can do better than we did,” said Abderhalden.