KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter WC-130J Super Hercules crew prepares for take off Sept. 28, 2022, for a mission into Hurricane Ian. The unit flew weather reconnaissance missions around the clock from Sept. 21 to 29, 2022 into Hurricane Ian to gather vital weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. The Hurricane Hunters, or 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, are a unit in the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Lt. Col. Dave Gentile, WC-130J aircraft commander, and Maj. Alex Boykin, pilot, fly a 53rd Weather Reconnaissance aircraft into Hurricane Ian Sept. 27, 2022. The 53rd WRS, or Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, fly missions into hurricanes to collect data for forecasters at the National Hurricane Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Capt. Davis White, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, monitors a radar screen during a flight into Hurricane Ian Sept. 27, 2022. The 53rd WRS, or Hurricane Hunters, fly missions into hurricanes to collect data for forecasters at the National Hurricane Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Lt. Col. Stephen Pituch, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron commander and WC-130J Super Hercules pilot at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., prepares for takeoff June 2, 2022. The 53rd WRS flew its first data collection mission of the Atlantic hurricane season into Invest 91L off the Yucatan Peninsula. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

A WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft assigned to the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., takes off June 2, 2022. The 53rd WRS flew its first data collection mission of the Atlantic hurricane season into Invest 91L off the Yucatan Peninsula. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

HOUSTON, Texas

Maj. Joyce K. Hirai, is an aerial reconnaissance weather officer with the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, a 403rd Wing unit at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The Hurricane Hunters provide weather data from the storm to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. Hirai also works as an International Space Station flight controller in operations planning as a contractor for NASA. (Courtesy photo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Maj. Joyce K. Hirai, is an aerial reconnaissance weather officer with the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, a 403rd Wing unit at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The Hurricane Hunters provide weather data from the storm to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. Hirai also works as an International Space Station flight controller in operations planning as a contractor for NASA. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

A 53rd Weather Reconnaisance Squadron aircrew flies into Hurricane Douglas, July 24, 2020, to collect weather data to assist the Central Pacific Hurricane Center with their forecasts. Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

A WC-130J assigned to the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., takes off as a C-130J assigned to the 815th Airlift Squadron taxis to takeoff Aug. 27, 2021. Both squadrons evacuated to Kelly Field in San Antonio Texas ahead of anticipated Hurricane Ida. (U.S. Air Force by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Tech. Sgt. Michael Gehl, 403rd Maintenance Squadron meteorology technician, and Bora Gunay, 580th Software Engineering Squadron test engineer, check the software on two aerial reconnaissance weather officer stations at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., April 21, 2021. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters’” ARWO and loadmaster/dropsonde operator stations are being upgraded with hardware and software to increase their weather collecting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Senior Airman Warren Reynier, 403rd Maintenance Squadron meteorology technician, runs an operations check on the upgraded monitor of the aerial reconnaissance weather officer station at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., May 13, 2021. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters’” ARWO and loadmaster/dropsonde operator stations are being upgraded with hardware and software to increase their weather collecting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Christopher Carranza) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Master Sgt. Robert Ramos, 403rd Maintenance Squadron avionics flight chief, operates the forklift loading an aerial weather officer station onto a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., May 13, 2021 The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, “Hurricane Hunters,” ARWO and loadmaster/dropsonde operator stations are being upgraded with hardware and software to increase their weather collecting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Christopher Carranza) Share