Nuclear Security Summit set to kick off in Washington D.C.

  • Published
  • By Benjamin Newell
  • Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  President Barack Obama is hosting a Nuclear Security Summit in downtown Washington, D.C. April 12 and 13.

The summit may decide the future of global nuclear proliferation policy. It involves 1,800 distinguished visitors arriving at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., from more than 45 countries over a two-day period. Andrews was designated as the primary aerial port of embarkation and debarkation for international delegates to the summit. Serving as the primary aerial port for more than 40 heads of state and international delegations required the support of Air Force District of Washington assets.

"Everyone recognizes the importance of this Nuclear Security Summit," said Deric Wong, a plans, policy and doctrine analyst in AFDW's Plans and Requirements directorate. "We have been working across many agencies since January to ensure everything goes smoothly."

The first delegation touched down April 9, carrying Argentine President Cristina Fernandez De Kirchner. Her arrival marked the beginning of the NSS mission. People at Andrews and its joint partners will provide aircraft service, ceremony, protocol, security, public affairs and customs support to all who arrive. The last aircraft is scheduled to depart April 15.

Officials from the 89th Airlift Wing, accustomed to about 60 daily missions at Andrews, called for material and personnel support from as far away as Travis AFB, Calif., to provide flightline support to the aircraft ferrying distinguished guests. AFDW Airmen will be the first people that leaders and representatives of more than 40 countries and international organizations see as they arrive for the summit.

Greeting representatives and stakeholders in global nuclear policy as they disembark at Andrews will be ceremonial professionals from the Military District of Washington and the USAF Honor Guard along with protocol specialists and liaisons from across AFDW. They will be working in tandem with customs and immigration officers and members of the U.S. Secret Service.

"Think about all of the moving parts here," said Lt. Col. David Murphy, 316th Wing Mission Support Group deputy commander and project leader for the event at Andrews. "We will be working on a global stage. We will be handling numerous aircraft of all types, carrying some of the world's most powerful leaders."

Working behind the scenes will be a small army of security forces, logisticians, service support personnel and about 100 aerial port Airmen from across Air Mobility Command, including 48 assigned permanently to Andrews. These aerial porters will ensure all visiting aircraft are safely received upon arrival and escorted upon departure. They also will organize and transport the baggage brought by heads-of-delegation and their entourages.

"Basically, we're setting up an entire special services airport for a week," said Mr. Wong. "This airport will, at its peak, process as many people as a midsize airline operating out of Dulles International Airport."

Officials from the Department of Homeland Security declared the Nuclear Security Summit a National Special Security Event on Feb. 6, setting in motion a chain of events throughout local, state and federal governments.

A hangar on Andrews large enough to house serves as the immigration and customs screening area where representatives will  process the entourages of many delegates through all of the usual immigration steps faced by those traveling to the United States. Security forces from throughout the local area are working with the event's lead agency, the U.S. Secret Service, to protect and sweep all inbound individuals. Staging areas are set up throughout the base, making response time to any emergency instantaneous. On the flightline, 19 pieces of equipment were brought from five Air Force bases, including nine stair trucks used to accommodate the possibility of four "wide body" aircrafts unloading simultaneously as many delegations arrive in a short time frame on April 11 and 12.

"AFDW will be supporting this from an accounting perspective as well," said Micah Killion, director of AFDW programs and financial management. "After the event concludes, AFDW (officials) will be submitting requests for funding and making sure that everything is properly paid for."

Most of the personnel supporting the event were briefed at the Andrews base theatre on the magnitude and importance of their efforts.

"The greatest threat posed to us and our children in the coming decades is from a nuclear weapon in the wrong hands," said Col. Steven Shepro, commander of the 316th Wing, which is leading the summit support effort at Andrews. "Airmen participating in this can tell their children that they supported the Nuclear Security Summit. It is that important."

The summit is scheduled to conclude April 13, and the last plane will depart from Andrews April 15.