{"id":32297,"date":"2024-01-08T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2024\/01\/08\/us-air-force-logistics-officer-talks-basing-drones-in-the-pacific\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:21:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:21:35","slug":"us-air-force-logistics-officer-talks-basing-drones-in-the-pacific","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/interviews\/2024\/01\/08\/us-air-force-logistics-officer-talks-basing-drones-in-the-pacific\/","title":{"rendered":"US Air Force logistics officer talks basing, drones in the Pacific"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After decades of relying on major military hubs from Hawaii to South Korea, the Pentagon is laying the groundwork for more dispersed operations across the Pacific region<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brig. Gen. Mike Zuhlsdorf is a key player in those discussions. He serves as the deputy director for resource integration under the Air Force\u2019s logistics, engineering and force protection branch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As other defense officials negotiate with foreign leaders for access to bare-bones airfields and more established bases overseas, it\u2019s Zuhlsdorf\u2019s team that is figuring out how to turn those sites into valuable Air Force lily pads in a maritime-dominant region for the decades ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zuhlsdorf spoke to Air Force Times at the Pentagon on Dec. 15. This interview was edited for length and clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is the Air Force talking to other countries about using foreign bases that already exist, or are you considering building new sites?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are not putting in new bases. These are bases and airfields that we\u2019ve had since World War II, where we were able to hopscotch across the Pacific<\/a> to ultimately get close enough to Japan. There are a lot of airfields like that, whether it\u2019s in the first island chain \u2014 Japan down through the Philippines \u2014 or the second island chain, near Guam and Tinian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re talking about renovating, rejuvenating and rehabilitating. We will make sure the pavement is still viable, trim back the vegetation where the jungle has encroached on the runway, and set up the basic essentials that we need in the event that we need to flush aircraft from a hub into these spokes, keep them safe and then turn them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Brig. Gen. Michael Zuhlsdorf is the deputy director of resource integration for the U.S. Air Force. (Staff Sgt. Chad Trujillo\/U.S. Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What do we need? Things like fuel; major aircraft parts that six to 12 airmen<\/a> might be able to fix there; maybe some munitions [and airfield repair resources]; the essential lighting or navigational systems for nighttime operations. A little bit of base air defense might be part of that, or camouflage, concealment and deception. Almost all the hubs will have a command, control and communication system that will fly in with them so that we can maintain connectivity to the mothership at all times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are working with allies and partners. Pacific Air Forces has identified airfields that we want to invest in, and they\u2019re going to work with the Philippines<\/a> and Australia<\/a> to do that. We are teaming with them on some projects that will allow us to get fuel out there, some munitions capability and other long-range transport aircraft that would come in and be able to resupply.<\/p>\n\n\n