HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- In a long-anticipated ceremony filled with reflection, recognition, and gratitude, the 505th Combat Training Squadron officially dedicated the Joint Training and Operations Center, or JTOC, as fully operational capable during a ribbon cutting event held Tuesday, June 10.
The JTOC’s transformation into a cutting-edge operations facility marks the culmination of years of vision, effort, and persistence from across the Hurlburt campus. Attendees from every corner of the 505th Command and Control Wing gathered to witness the unveiling of this revitalized hub, designed to meet the ever-evolving demands of operational command and control training.
“This ceremony is long, long, overdue,” Lt. Col. Michael Power, 505th CTS commander, noted, with a smile. “But what better time to celebrate the journey we’ve traveled than now, surrounded by the very people who made it possible.”
From Wires and Bed Sheets to World-Class Capability
The story of the JTOC is one of remarkable transformation. Once a cluttered and makeshift space, complete with ad-hoc equipment, a patchwork of cables, and infamous restroom conditions, the facility is now a premier operational environment supporting the full spectrum of air operations center replication.
What began with a facilities tour by then-Commander of Air Combat Command Gen. Mark Kelly in 2020, evolved into a complex, multi-year construction and modernization effort, tackling everything from fire suppression redesigns and HVAC failures to architectural quirks and mold remediation.
Today, the JTOC delivers a 95% increase in operational capacity for the 505th CTS. With nearly 7,500 square feet of space and 89 additional operator workstations, the center is now equipped with full Secure Internet Protocol Router/Non-Secure Internet Protocol Router, C2 Enclave, and modeling and simulation capabilities. It features a four-zone layout including a Secure Video Teleconferencing suite, combat plans and operations sections, and a permanent party area, everything required for high-fidelity air component training support.
Honoring the AOC Replication Cell
While the JTOC stands as a physical milestone, its heart and soul are the professionals of the AOC Replication Cell, or AOC RC, a specialized team created in 2012 to meet sister-service demands for Title X exercise support. From humble beginnings with just 10 personnel, today’s AOC RC boasts a roster of 24 experts (with plans to grow to 32 by 2026), delivering realistic airpower environments for over a dozen exercises annually and supporting more than 40,000 joint warfighters each year.
The ceremony honored the legacy of talent that built the AOC RC and spotlighted the diverse paths of today’s team—tracing where each member stood back in 2012, from combat controllers and air traffic operators to Special Forces veterans, naval officers, high school students, and even one future leader still in middle school.
A Legacy in Leadership: Mr. Milt Waddell
Central to both the JTOC and the AOC RC story is Milt Waddell, who joined the AOC RC in 2014 and has served as its cornerstone ever since. With over 23 years of active-duty experience as a B-52 pilot and more than a decade of dedication to the 505th CCW, Milt’s influence is both profound and personal.
“If the story of the JTOC is incomplete without the AOC RC, then the story of the AOC RC is incomplete without Milt,” said Power. “He’s the embodiment of operational excellence and mentorship. And so, we dedicate not just a building today, we dedicate a legacy.”
To conclude the ceremony, attendees raised a symbolic toast:
“To the Flying Lions, Team Blue Flag, the AOC RC, and to Milt Waddell, may your operational environments be always combat representative!”
From its chaotic beginnings to its polished present, the JTOC now stands ready, not just as a facility, but as a tribute. A tribute to the mission. A tribute to the team. And above all, a tribute to the enduring leadership behind it.
Let it be known now and forever: the JTOC is the House that Milt Built.
The ceremony concluded with heartfelt words from Milt Waddell himself, the man at the center of the JTOC’s transformation. With a smile, and a well-timed request for more champagne, Milt reflected on how he got roped into leading the project:
“One evening, I got called to the commander’s office… and they started talking to me about this building and how important it was going to be to the AOC RC contractors. And then they kind of psyched me into taking the lead on renovating this place. I remember saying, ‘Well, I’ll do it,’ and they all just looked at me and said, ‘We knew you’d say that.’”
What followed, Milt explained, was three years of learning contracts, collaborating with the communications squadron, and working side-by-side with experts across the campus to design and build the JTOC from the ground up.
“It was completely scrapped and rebuilt, by both squadrons, from scratch. It’s been a long journey, but it’s been worth every bit of it, thanks to the incredible professionals I got to work with,” said Waddell.
He closed his remarks with praise for the team he has led and mentored for more than a decade, “I’ve got no doubt in my mind, maybe I’m a little biased, but I’ve got the best team. This building is maintained by the people who sit here every day, and they do such a great job. I’m very proud of them, and I appreciate everything this team does.”
From wires and bed sheets to state-of-the-art systems and seamless connectivity, the JTOC is more than just a new facility, it’s a testament to dedication, resilience, and community. Thanks to the vision of many and the leadership of one, it now stands as a fully operational symbol of excellence in operational C2 training.