WASHINGTON, D.C.

Lt. Col. Steven Burton, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron director of operations, along with NOAA Cmdr. Kevin Doremus, NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations headquarters, and Dr. Anna M. Wilson, Assistant Director of Atmospheric River Reconnaissance at the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at Scripps, briefed congressional staff members about their unique and vital role in forecasting extreme weather at the U.S. Capitol June 24, 2025. The 53rd WRS, part of the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, is the only Department of Defense unit dedicated to aerial weather reconnaissance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Ethan Stoker) Share

WASHINGTON, D.C.

NOAA Cmdr. Kevin Doremus, NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations headquarters, and Lt. Col. Steven Burton, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron director of operations, along with Dr. Anna M. Wilson, Assistant Director of Atmospheric River Reconnaissance at the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at Scripps, briefed congressional staff members about their unique and vital role in forecasting extreme weather during an event at the U.S. Capitol June 24, 2025. The 53rd WRS, part of the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, is the only Department of Defense unit dedicated to aerial weather reconnaissance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Ethan Stoker) Share

MATHER AIR FIELD, Calif.

Master Sgt. Kayla Deangelo, 5th Operational Weather Flight training element chief, briefs aircrew from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron during the preflight briefing before an atmospheric river mission, Feb. 18. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters conduct atmospheric river missions to collect data that is important for forecasters at the National Weather Service and researchers to track atmospheric rivers, which are large amounts of water vapor in the earth’s atmosphere. This data is invaluable in improving the accuracy of weather models, especially in predicting the timing, intensity, and impact of these events. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Master Sgt. James Hyer, 403rd Maintenance Squadron isochronal coordinator, completes a tool box inventory before releasing the aircraft to the aircrew for takeoff, Jan. 15. Members of the 403rd Maintenance Group ensure the aircraft are maintained for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron to fly ARs in the Pacific Ocean Basin from 1 January through 31 March as a specific part of the National Winter Season Operations Plan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Staff Sgt. Darykah Henderson, 403rd Logistics Readiness Squadron material management technician, looks for an aircraft part required for repair of the WC-130J Super Hercules. The 403rd LRS is responsible for maintaining an inventory of all parts and supplies, plus keeping track of the number of parts on hand and when to order new parts, which is important at an off-station location to ensure parts are available for the maintenance personnel to repair the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Redeemer, 403rd Operation Support Squadron aircrew flight equipmennt technician, replaces and tests a set of anti-smoke goggles in a WC-130J Super Hercules to ensure all equipment is operating correcting during an Atmospheric Rivers mission, Jan. 15. The 403rd OSS ensures that all emergency equipment is operational and functional before each use and conducts routines checks of all equipment to make sure all aircrew have the proper equipment for missions including the ARs flown by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron in the Pacific Ocean Basin from 1 January through 31 March as a specific part of the National Winter Season Operations Plan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Senior Master Sgt. David Workman, 403rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron production superintendent, completes a walk-around inspection of a WC-130J Super Hercules prior to releasing the aircraft to the aircrew for take-off, Jan. 15. Members of the 403rd Maintenance Group ensure the aircraft are maintained for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron to fly ARs in the Pacific Ocean Basin from 1 January through 31 March as a specific part of the National Winter Season Operations Plan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Senior Airman Daiquiri Burton, 403rd Maintenance Squadron propulsion technician, watches as the safety spotter during the the use of the two-person lift during the repair of a rudder acuator on a WC-130J Super Hercules. Members of the 403rd Maintenance Group ensure the aircraft are maintained for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron to fly ARs in the Pacific Ocean Basin from 1 January through 31 March as a specific part of the National Winter Season Operations Plan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Master Sgts. Christopher Simmons, 403rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief and Tu Phan, 403rd Maintenance Squadron integrated flight control systems technician, use the two-person lift to remove the panel in order to remove and replace a rudder acuator on a WC-130J Super Hercules. Members of the 403rd Maintenance Group ensure the aircraft are maintained for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron to fly ARs in the Pacific Ocean Basin from 1 January through 31 March as a specific part of the National Winter Season Operations Plan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Master Sgts. Christopher Simmons, 403rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief and Tu Phan, 403rd Maintenance Squadron integrated flight control systems technician, use a two-person lift to remove and replace a rudder acuator on a WC-130J Super Hercules. Members of the 403rd Maintenance Group ensure the aircraft are maintained for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron to fly ARs in the Pacific Ocean Basin from 1 January through 31 March as a specific part of the National Winter Season Operations Plan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) Share

RENOTAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Nev.

Master Sgt. Chris Becvar, loadmaster for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., loads a dropsonde into a chute during an atmospheric river reconnaissance flight out of Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Nev., Jan. 31, 2021. Upon it's release, the dropsonde measures atmospheric data such as barometric pressure, temperature, and humidity and transmits the data back to the WC-130J where it is assimilated into forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

RENOTAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Nev.

1st Lt. Tim Viere, pilot for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., steers a WC-130J "Hurricane Hunter" aircraft during an atmospheric river reconnaissance mission from Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Nev., Jan. 31, 2021. The 53rd WRS is part of the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing and is the only unit of its kind in the Department of Defense. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share