An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

AFRC hosts 2017 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Expo

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Weston Woodward
  • 655th ISR Group Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  With the ever-changing state of international affairs, the Air Force is constantly looking to stay ahead of the curve in the intelligence career field.

Air Force Reserve Command held its 2017 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Expo August 22-24, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. Throughout the three-day expo, leaders discussed important topics and changes coming to the Air Force Reserve Command, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, community, shared best practices, and held more specified discussions in small breakout sessions each day.

Some of the topics discussed during the expo included shaping the AFRC ISR future, developing global ISR mentoring and being an opportunity maker, future Reserve ISR integration with Air Force special operations, and intelligence support to the nuclear operations.

More than 250 Airmen working in various intelligence career fields attended the expo, with more than 80 units represented. Though the conference was hosted by AFRC, many active duty Service members attended, along with air reserve technicians, traditional reservists, and reserve members on active-duty status.

In his opening remarks to the expo, Col. Douglas A. Drakeley, Director of Intelligence, Headquarters AFRC, noted that “ISR is one of three growth industries in the Reserve Command and is critical to the Air Force mission, ‘Fly, Fight, and Win.’” The other two growth areas are cyber and space.

During the event, AFRC intelligence squadrons were given a space to set up booths and displays to share more information about their unit’s missions. This was a great opportunity for Airmen in the intelligence career field coming off of active duty to get more information on ISR opportunities in the reserves.

Drakeley also noted that in order to fill ever-increasing ISR demands, the Air Force Reserve needs the best and brightest Airmen to be part of the team.

“Always be learning, always be leading, always be recruiting,” he said.

Throughout the next 12 months, the AFRC ISR Enterprise will expand beyond the current independent ISR Group structure to a fully established ISR Wing leading and managing two ISR Groups and 14 geographically separated squadrons.

These establishments and units will be based at locations that optimize their geographic proximity to national, joint and Air Force ISR, cyber, space, targeting, and analysis activities.

“By expanding into a more appropriate force structure, executing appropriate basing decisions, identifying and closing capability and capacity gaps, and making prudent resource investments based on Air Force and Major Command priorities, the AFR ISR Enterprise will rise to meet the challenges of providing trained and ready forces in the most cost-effective way,” said Col. John D. McKaye, 655th ISR Group commander. “This will enable AFRC to shape the future of ISR.”



The 655 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group is dedicated to serving as the premier and most diverse ISR Group in the United States Air Force, delivering timely, reliable, accurate and actionable intelligence products enabling a decisive advantage over adversaries of the United States. The 655th consists of a headquarters and three tenant squadrons in Ohio, and 11 geographically separated units in California, Texas, Nebraska, Virginia, Florida and Maryland. For exciting and rewarding career opportunities with the 655th ISRG, please contact your local Air Force Reserve recruiter or call 937-257-8117.