The 403rd Wing's 403rd Operations Group Commander Col. Elissa Granderson was the pilot for a 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Oct. 9, 2024, mission to collect weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts.
She is responsible for all matters pertaining to the operational readiness and effectiveness of the Operations Group that includes 20 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, two operational weather flights, an operations support squadron, tactical airlift squadron, aeromedical evacuation squadron, and the Hurricane Hunters, the only weather reconnaissance squadron in the Department of Defense.
The 403rd Wing is an Air Force Reserve Command unit at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force video by Lt. Col. Mark Withee)
The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircrews flew nine weather reconnaissance missions into Hurricane Helene Sept. 23-26, collecting data to for National Hurricane Center forecasts.
