Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      PACAF wins Air Force Defender ChallengePublished Sept. 14, 2018
                    
                    By David DeKunder
                    
                    
                    502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
            **JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKAND, Texas (AFNS) --**The U.S. Pacific Air Forces Command came out on top among 14 international security forces teams to win the Air Force Defender Challenge Championship Sept. 10-13 at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas.
In taking the coveted Defender Challenge Championship Trophy, PACAF totaled the most combined points in the contest in which international security forces teams went head-to-head in several events, including realistic weapons scenarios, simulated dismounted operations and combat endurance.
The Defender Challenge competition included 14 four-person security forces teams, 12 from U.S. Air Force major commands, one from the Great Britain Royal Air Force and one from the German Air Force.
Brig. Gen. Andrea Tullos, Air Force Director of Security Forces, presented the trophy to the winning PACAF team during an awards ceremony at JBSA-Camp Bullis Sept. 13, the last day of the Defender Challenge.
The PACAF team won the Defender Challenge by taking first in the weapons competition and placing second in the dismounted operations challenge. 
Air Combat Command finished in second place and in third, Air Force Material Command. 
By winning the weapons competition, PACAF displayed the highest marksmanship skills of all teams in that category and was presented with the Coleman Cup, named after Brig. Gen. Richard Coleman, former Air Force Security Forces Center director of security forces and commander from 1997 to 2000. The ACC team took second in the weapons competition followed by the Air Force Space Command in third.
The Air Mobility Command won the Sadler Cup, the award that is presented to the top team in the dismounted operations challenge. Rounding out the competition in the dismounted operations challenge was PACAF, second, and Air National Guard, third.
In the grueling combat endurance event, the German Air Force came out on top followed by ACC, second, and AMC, third.
Other awards include the Top Shot, which is presented to the top three security forces members who have been recognized for mastering vital marksmanship skills. First place winner was Staff Sgt. Benjamin Rodriguez, Air Force District of Washington; Senior Airman David Hightower, Air Education and Training Command, second; and Airman Ist Class Curtis Covington, PACAF.
The Outstanding Defender award was presented to Lance Cpl. Adam Butler, Royal Air Force Regiment. The award recognizes a security forces defender who has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout the competition from their peers, who nominate the servicemember, and a panel of chiefs.
The Defender Challenge event returned this year after a 14-year hiatus. Great Britain had held the trophy after winning the last Defender Challenge in 2004.
The Defender Challenge traces its origins to more than 37 years ago when Headquarters Air Force Office of Security Police first held the international defender’s competition, according to Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center at JBSA-Lackland.Defender Challenge 2018 



security forces 



JBSA Lackland 



PACAF 



ACC 



AMC 



AFMC 



AFSPC Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil