Air Force coordination team joins Joint Task Force-Haiti

  • Published
  • By Capt. Nathan D. Broshear
  • 12th Air Force Southern Public Affairs
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFNS) --  The 12th Air Force Southern vice commander, and the 612th Air Operations Center deputy commander arrived in Haiti to act as lead members of the Air Component Coordination Element supporting Joint Task Force-Haiti Jan. 12 here.

Brig. Gen. Darryl W. Burke, the 12th Air Force Southern vice commander, and Col. Dave Uselman, the 612th AOC deputy commander, will lead the team whose primary function is to liaison between the JTF, joint forces air component commander and related staffs coordinating the flow of air traffic during Operation Unified Response.

"The ACCE is a central component of the joint staff," General Burke said. "Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines (and) Coast Guardsmen are all working together to find ways to support the government of Haiti, interagency and nongovernmental organizations."

In addition to the two senior officers, the AFSOUTH commander added air mobility, communications, public affairs and intelligence support to the ACCE team. The team is working at the joint operations center outside the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, along with hundreds of military members, government agencies and relief organizations.

"It's vital for the joint force, U.S. agencies, Haitian government and volunteer and charitable organizations to have robust air support -- both in the air and on the ground -- in order to accomplish the incredibly complex task of sustaining and rebuilding Haiti," General Burke said. "The ACCE provides the coordination between these groups and the Air Force to ensure our air assets are readily available and operating at maximum efficiency -- and effectiveness."

The ACCE is the Air Force liaison element to the Joint Task Force-Haiti commander, Army Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, and reports to Lt. Gen. Glenn F. Spears, the Air Forces Southern commander. Air Force assets working to rebuild Haiti include mobility Airmen from across the Air Force, as well as members of the 621st Contingency Response Group, Air Force Special Operations Command combat controllers, security forces, airfield managers and aerial porters, civil engineers, medical technicians, contracting and communications staff.

"The Air Force effort to assist the people of Haiti began within 24 hours of the earthquake -- and has increased every day. We'll continue to support Joint Task Force-Haiti with excellence for as long as it takes," General Burke said.