Sharing Success—Owning Failure: Preparing to Command in the Twenty-First Century Air Force.
By Col David L. Goldfein.
The following excerpt is an interview with Col David Nichols, USAF; February 2001.

Lt Col David “Face” Nichols is among the most positive commanders I’ve worked with. At Aviano AB, Italy, his enthusiasm and love of the 510th Fighter Squadron, the Buzzards, resonated around the wing. He agreed to share a few words on leadership with us.

People make leadership exciting, complex, frustrating, and rewarding. I approach the challenge with a simple acronym—ICE. It stands for intelligence, compassion, energy, and experience. Let me briefly mention each.

by TSgt. Timothy P. Barela
photos by MSgt. Rose Reynolds

Flying Deny Flight missions over war-torn Bosnia is no "walk in the park." But taking advantage of outdoor activities and Italy helps Capt. Anthony and Janette Roberson deal with the stress of Anthony's job.

Nestled near the foothills of the Alps, the scenery at Aviano AB, Italy, is nothing short of spectacular. The location? A tourist's dream: By train, the base is an hour away from Venice, one of the world's most romantic cities. Via car, it's a short 45 minutes to the beach, or 35 minutes to the ski slopes. . . .

The following is an email transmission from Captain Zobrist (510FS Pilot) who was involved in the Search and Rescue attempt of Captain Scott O'Grady (555FS Pilot) who was shot down during a Bosnian Mission from Aviano AB, Italy.

Oct 16, 1992 -- Security Council Resolution 781, NATO forces begin monitoring flights in the airspace of Bosnia Herzegovina in NATO Operation Sky Monitor. The U.N. resolution calls on member states to to assist United Nations Protection Forces (UNPROFOR) in monitoring the ban on military flights in that airspace. More than 500 flights violate the ban from Oct. 16, 1992 to April 12, 1993.

The pockets of fighting in Bosnia which led to NATO air raids in November, also led to the 510th Fighter Squadron beefing up its capabilities in Deny Flight taskings by adding the targeting pod system of the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night.

As the 51Oth Fighter Squadron assumed the "Deny Flight" watch from the 555th FS for December, officials wanted to increase the capability of patrolling fighters.

Story by SrA. Dan Neely, Public Affairs
Photo by SrA Tana Hamilton

More than 120 members of the 510th Fighter Squadron returned home May 26 following a three-week training deployment to Decimomannu, Sardinia, where they slugged it out with their German counterparts in "friendly" competition at the Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation Range.