MacDill Air Force Base

  • CentCom commander Votel steels for next chapter in world’s most dangerous region

    News / Military By Howard Altman / Tampa Bay Times / July 14, 2017 PHOTO: Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of the U.S. Central Command, sat down for an interview Wednesday with the Tampa Bay Times in his office at MacDill Air Force base. (MONICA HERNDON | Times) TAMPA — As the man in charge…

  • Helping commandos face one tough challenge: Finding their next job

    News / Military Stu Bradin said a deeper transition course was necessary. By Howard Altman / Tampa Bay Times / May 1, 2017 The Navy SEAL master chief was among the best of the best. Not only had he served with the Navy Special Warfare Development Group, commonly known as SEAL Team 6, but he…

  • SOCom at 30 has evolved into small command with big global impact

    News / Military By Howard Altman / Tampa Bay Times / April 15, 2017 PHOTO: U.S. Special Operations Command can spend billions each year on equipment and services for commandos such as Green Berets, seen here in a Kandahar Province village in Afghanistan. (HOWARD ALTMAN | Tampa Tribune 2013) It was born out of deadly…

  • Mayor Buckhorn to be ‘taken hostage’ in staged assault in downtown Tampa today

    News / Military By Howard Altman / Tampa Bay Times / May 25, 2016 PHOTO: International Special Operations Forces from many countries around the world work together in a simulated hostage rescue and combating enemy forces in 2014 in Tampa. Later today, Buckhorn once again will be taken hostage. It’s all part of SOFIC (Special…

  • Head of SOCom lays out vision at MacDill conference

    News / Military By Howard Altman / Tampa Bay Times / May 24, 2016 PHOTO: General Raymond “Tony” Thomas III, the man in charge of US Special Operations Command, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, will speak twice on Tuesday in Tampa, including a question and answer session that should offer a vigorous discussion of…

  • Lt. general poised to become deputy commander of U.S. Central Command

    News / Military By Howard Altman / Tampa Bay Times / May 9, 2016 PHOTO: Air Force Lt. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., nominated as the No. 2 officer at U.S. Central Command, was once deputy director of CentCom’s operations directorate. (U.S. Air Force) MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE — As the head of U.S. Air…

  • CBS orders pilot for TV drama based on Tampa military scene

  • After MacDill meeting, Nelson satisfied with base security

    TAMPA – Days after asking Air Force officials how a homeless woman could sneak onto the home of U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Central Command four times in three months, Sen. Bill Nelson says he is satisfied MacDill Air Force Base is safe. “My reason for being here, as senior member of the Senate…

  • Sen. Nelson coming to MacDill to go over base security

    TAMPA – Sen. Bill Nelson will be coming to MacDill Air Force Base to meet with base leadership Friday to talk about how a homeless woman managed to get on base four times over a three-month period, according to a MacDill spokesman. Nelson has asked Air Force officials to explain how Suzanne Jensen, 50, managed…

  • Socom trade show in Tampa highlights future needs

    TAMPA – One thing that makes the Special Operations Command special is the authority it has to develop and buy its own equipment and services. That autonomy takes center stage this week as thousands of commandos and defense industry representatives flock to Tampa for the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference at the Tampa Convention Center,…

  • Altman: Reporter heads to Afghanistan for first-hand look

    Every week, I write at least one story, but usually more, about something happening 8,000 miles away in Afghanistan. It’s only natural. I cover the military and Tampa is home to several commands that pay close attention to that landlocked nation in the middle of Southwest Asia. U.S. Central Command oversees military operations in that…

  • Army sergeants honored at MacDill memorial

    The grenade landed behind Army St. Sgt. Leroy A. Petry, who was on a mission searching for a Taliban leader in Paktya Province, Afghanistan. Already bleeding from being shot in the legs, Petry picked up the deadly device to keep it from killing his men, who were crouching with him behind a wall for cover.…

  • Gen. Austin takes charge at Centcom during MacDill ceremony

    TAMPA – Standing on a stage in chilly Hangar 3 at MacDill Air Force Base, Army Gen. Lloyd Austin III delivered a veiled warning to Iran during his speech accepting command of U.S. Central Command. “The U.S. will continue to play an important role as a key partner to our friends and our allies,” said…

  • Tampa recalls key role in Operation Iraqi Freedom

    TAMPA – Even before the launch of “shock and awe” 10 years ago today, Tampa played a key role in what came to be known as Operation Iraqi Freedom. Well before the first bombs fell, planners at U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command, both headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, had drawn up…