Eglin Air Force Base
Modern-day Eglin evolved from a distant and honorable past. Currently the 96th Test Wing tests and evaluates non-nuclear munitions, electronic combat systems and navigation/guidance systems.
Spanning six wars, Eglin has played a prominent role in airpower history. In 1931, personnel of the Army Air Corps Tactical School (Maxwell Field, Alabama) looking for a site for a bombing and gunnery range, saw the potential of the sparsely populated forested areas surrounding Valparaiso, Florida, and the vast expanse of the adjacent Gulf of Mexico.
Through the years, Eglin made a recognizable contribution to the effectiveness of the American air operations and continued to maintain a role in the research, development, and testing of air armament.
With an increasing reliance on the security of technology and networks, the 96th Cyber Test Group was activated and assigned to the 96 TW on 8 December 2017 to test and validate Air Force systems and networks for effectiveness, resiliency and interoperability. Three squadrons 45th Test Squadron, 46th Test Squadron and 47th Cyberspace test Squadron were assigned as subordinate units, and operate at Eglin and 5 other geographic locations.
In late 2018, following the destruction of Hurricane Michael, Eglin provided support for displaced Tyndall AFB personnel and logistics to assist in base recovery. Support provided to 1300 Tyndall personnel including Air Force Aid Society Grants to relocation/PCS assistance. Air Force leaders made the decision to temporarily relocate the F-22 Formal Training Unit of 325th Fighter Wing (ACC) to Eglin AFB, to include F-22 Raptor and T-38 Talon aircraft.
Learn more: Eglin Air Force Base History
