EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — Thankfulness and mission accomplishments shaped the 96th Test Wing commander’s town hall meetings held Nov. 24 at the Enlisted Heritage Hall, according to Eglin Air Force Base.
Niceville.com Community Partner
Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro thanked Airmen and civilian personnel for their commitment to the mission and for supporting one another throughout the year. He highlighted a series of significant accomplishments across the 96th Test Wing during 2025.
A key achievement involved the 96th Maintenance Group’s collaboration with the 96th Range Group to reconfigure F-16 Fighting Falcons for the Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operational Model, or VENOM, program. The effort is designed to test autonomy software for future applications.
“We’re developing that capability for future applications for our warfighters,” Mr Massaro said.
He noted that the maintenance team’s contributions to the flying program resulted in more flying by the wing than ever before.
Niceville.com Community Partner
Massaro also pointed to the Range Group’s work installing new instrumentation at test sites across the Florida Panhandle, north and south of Tampa, and the Florida Keys. The upgrades support data collection and monitoring of weapons testing.
Another advancement involved autonomous surfboards equipped with cameras to gather data for long-range weapons testing. The 96th Cyberspace Test Group supported long-range evaluation by testing data control and command-and-control links.
The CTG will stand up the Long-Range Weapons Kill Chain Combined Task Force, an organization where multiple wings will work together on the mission portfolio.
“[This portfolio] tests a variety of different command and control data links we need to put in place to be able to sense a target, shoot a target from very long distances, and communicate that information to see what’s going on,” Mr Massaro said.
Niceville.com Community Partner
In another key accomplishment, SEEK Eagle, the 96th Maintenance Group, and the 96th Operations Group worked together on the Fixed-Wing, Air-Launched, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ordnance. The low-cost, air-to-air counter-UAS weapon was validated for safe employment from the F-15E.
“FALCO was critical to our warfighters,” the commander said. “We responded in a very short turn to get a combat capability out to [U.S. Central Command], and they were able to employ it successfully.”
Massaro recognized the 96th Medical Group for maintaining services in a constrained resource environment while undergoing significant organizational changes.
He also highlighted the 96th Civil Engineer Group’s work on the base taxiway system. Eglin’s runways and taxiways, which also support commercial aircraft, showed substantial wear.
“[CEG] repaved taxiway hotel at the beginning of the year, and we have a plan to completely rebuild it,” Mr Massaro said.
Niceville.com Community Partner
“[CEG] redesigned that taxiway and is going to be doing some work in the next year to reinforce it and make it more efficient.”
The 96th Mission Support Group played a central role in base defense initiatives. The group developed a new background check system for people accessing the Eglin Test and Training Range and its waterways for recreational use. The MSG and Operations Group also advanced the c-UAS mission to strengthen defenses against aerial threats.
The 96th Force Support Squadron managed childcare challenges during the government shutdown, and the 96th Communications Squadron kept essential communication systems functioning with its current infrastructure.
Massaro emphasized that the work highlighted at the town hall represented only part of the wing’s collective effort.
More local Military News.
“You all have done this work in every way, shape, or form,” he said.
“The successes we have in 2025 and will continue to do in 2026 is because of the people, our Airmen, capital A. Those that wear uniforms and those that wear collared shirts. It’s all you, and I am happy and thankful to be part of this team.”
