RAF MILDENHALL, UK — U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Wolfe visited Team Mildenhall on July 13, 2026. The visit served to highlight the critical strategic roles played by both the 100th Air Refueling Wing and the 352nd Special Operations Wing in supporting combatant commands across the European and neighboring theaters.
During their time on base, Wilsbach and Wolfe met directly with Airmen to review firsthand mission capabilities, personnel readiness, and local innovation. The visit culminated in an all-call assembly emphasizing how Mildenhall’s daily operations project global American airpower.
Prioritizing Force Readiness and Leadership
A central theme of the visit was maintaining a high standard of mission readiness amid shifting global demands. Wilsbach engaged with squadron commanders over lunch to evaluate current posture capabilities and the strategic value of the installation.
“Combat credibility begins with readiness,” Wilsbach emphasized. “We owe our nation a force that’s prepared and disciplined, sustained by the Airmen who stand ready to respond when the nation calls.”
Simultaneously, Wolfe met with first sergeants to discuss quality-of-life challenges within the ranks and the practical application of servant leadership. Wolfe stressed the importance of community support networks during demanding deployment cycles, urging leaders to actively seek out individuals facing personal or professional hurdles.
Tactical Briefings and Grassroots Innovation
The tour continued with a stop at the 352nd Special Operations Wing, where the senior leadership team received tactical briefings from special tactics teams and small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) advisors.
Innovation took center stage during a visit to the Royal Spark detachment, RAF Mildenhall’s local innovation hub. The cell recently gained attention for developing a specialized tracking tool designed to help Airmen pace themselves during physical training (PT) tests.
Impact of the Royal Spark Tracker:
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Purpose: Enables Airmen to accurately pace themselves to successfully meet updated Air Force physical fitness standards.
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Scope: Operates as a continuous improvement office under the direction of both wing commanders on the base.
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Adoption: The tool has drawn widespread interest, with various spark cells, squadrons, and commands across the Air Force looking to implement the tracking system.
Gratitude for Real-World Contributions
To conclude the visit, Wilsbach and Wolfe addressed the broader base community during an all-call. Both leaders expressed their gratitude to the personnel at Mildenhall for their sustained execution of real-world operations under tight timelines.
Wolfe praised the team’s adaptability, noting their ability to figure out complex solutions and execute missions successfully even when operating with limited information.
Wilsbach closed the event by reinforcing the operational weight that RAF Mildenhall carries in the theater. “We know the team here has been busy supporting real-world operations,” Wilsbach said. “You’ve demonstrated you’re ready, innovative and taking smart risk. I’m so proud of the work you’re doing to support the mission.”