A Commitment to Mission that’s ‘Second to None’
The FAA and Puerto Rico Air National Guard work hand-in-hand to accomplish a radar restoration mission.
By Jim Tise, FAA
When the power supply on a long-range radar at Aguadilla, P.R., suffered a catastrophic failure one January day in 2022, the FAA faced a dilemma.
Time was of the essence. The radar provides important data to the FAA’s air traffic control system, as well as the U.S. Air Force’s national defense mission and the Department of Homeland Security for drug interception and border security.
When could the FAA acquire a replacement power supply? When could it be shipped to the local airport? Who would be there to accept it? And how quickly could FAA technicians based across Puerto Rico arrive at the site and get the radar up and running?
An initial estimate indicated it could take up to 3 ½ months. Yet, only four days later, the radar returned to full operation. One of the keys to the successful restoration was U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. José Hernández with the Puerto Rico Air National Guard.
Hernández and his unit certainly understood the radar’s importance.
“When you get a call from the National Guard Bureau, you know that it is very, very important,” Hernández said.
The FAA recently presented a plaque to Hernández recognizing “his outstanding contributions and support” to restoring the Aguadilla radar and his continued support to the FAA, the agency’s National Air Space Defense Program (NDP) and the country.
“It was very humbling; it really touched me,” he said.
At the time, Hernández was a member of the 140th Air Defense Support Squadron, the unit that helped the FAA install the radar in 2013 and maintained it until September 2021, when the FAA took over that responsibility.
“It’s an invaluable relationship that we have with the FAA,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. José Aldrich, the 141st Air Control Squadron commander. “Not only does it increase our footprint in the Caribbean, but it also allows us to support different missions.”
In November 2021, while still in the midst of the transition from military to civilian control, the radar experienced an unscheduled outage when the engine generator ran out of fuel. Fortunately, Hernández, or “Junior” as he is known to his FAA colleagues, assisted FAA technicians and NDP in coordinating fuel deliveries. As the fuel issue continued, he was instrumental in planning and executing power shutdowns safeguarding radar electronics.
“Having his presence out there, it’s really, really beneficial to the NDP mission,” said Julio Carreras, NDP resource services manager. With FAA maintenance technicians based two hours away from Aguadilla, Carreras said that, with Hernández and his unit on the scene, “we have a better reaction time. They’re being our first eyes and ears to tell us what’s going on.”
And since Hernández is certified to maintain the long-range radar, he could potentially return it to operation with the assistance of an FAA technician on the phone.
But Hernández’s expertise would be further tested just two months later when the radar’s power supply unit failed. Once again, he was first in line to assist and support restoration efforts.
On short notice, Hernández met Bryce Case — one of the FAA’s radar experts who flew in from New York — at the Aguadilla airport and assisted him in the initial troubleshooting. Once it was determined the system was unrepairable, Hernández helped to take the old system apart while plans were made to fly in a new one in.
Meanwhile, Carreras, working with the FAA’s Power Services Unit, was able to locate a backup supply system in just a day. The FAA leased a plane to fly the unit to Puerto Rico that very same night.
Who was there to receive the power supply? You guessed it. Hernández was there at midnight and then was back on site early the next morning, working side-by-side with FAA technicians to install the new system.
What impressed Carreras and Case the most about Hernández and the Puerto Rico Air National Guard was they had no contractual obligation to assist the FAA.
“Even though we no longer have a formal support arrangement with the 140th, the unit out there is standing by and ready to support us at any time,” Carreras said.
“Sgt. Hernández was the only member that stayed behind to help that transition,” said Lt. Col. Aldrich. “He’s a jack of all trades, so he stayed as the linchpin with the FAA and supported the radar’s connectivity.”
Hernández explained his dedication to keeping the radar operating.
“It’s a sense of purpose and belonging. It feels like [that radar] belongs to you. You want your system to work.”
On the flip side, said Carreras, “we’re helping the [Air Force] get additional data feeds to their mission. We’re trying to be a conduit. It’s a two-way street.”
“[Hernández] didn’t gain anything personally by doing all the things he did to restore this system. He did it for the mission. His commitment to whatever he’s working on is just second to none.” — Julio Carreras
Hernández says he still feels part of the NDP team. He still speaks with FAA employees from time to time, answering any questions they might have or just shooting the breeze.
“Any support they would need, like during hurricane season, if my command authorizes it, I’ll be willing to help out any time,” he said.
