Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula and Liden Blue, CEO of General Atomics, present the 2024 General Atomics RPA Squadron of the Year to the 184th Attack Squadron, Fort Smith, Arkansas, January 30, 3026. (Photo Credit: 184th Attack Squadron, USAF)
Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Lt. Gen. David A Deptula, USAF (Ret.), joined by Liden Blue, CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) presented the 2024 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Squadron of the Year Award to the 184th Attack Squadron (ATKS) from the Ebbing Air National Guard Base.
The award was announced at the Air & Space Force’s Association Air, Space, and Cyber Conference, but GA-ASI and the Mitchell Institute held a formal presentation ceremony on January 30 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, home of the 184th ATKS, in order to include all members of the “Flying Razorbacks” squadron.
The RPA Squadron of the Year Award is an annual award given to the squadron that over the course of the year distinguished itself through the employment of RPAs in meritorious service.
The 184th ATKS distinguished itself during the execution of 314 combat sorties and delivering 5,972 hours of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) in support of Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and PROSPERITY GUARDIAN.
The 184th ATKS was the first unit tasked by President Trump to provide sustained overwatch for humanitarian aid airdrops, the squadron demonstrated unparalleled innovation and mission versatility. The184th also executed 66 percent of all non-traditional defensive counter-air and counter-small unmanned aerial system missions, significantly enhancing joint force lethality and integrated deterrence against adversarial threats.
Lt. Gen. Deptula had this to say following the award ceremony, “The men and women of the 184th Attack Squadron exemplify the very best of what America’s Air National Guard brings to the U.S. military. Their sustained excellence in combat operations, humanitarian support, and innovative employment of remotely piloted aircraft demonstrates not only extraordinary professionalism, but also the impact airpower delivers every day. The ‘Flying Razorbacks’ have set the standard for RPA operations across the force, and this award is a well-earned recognition of their dedication, ingenuity, and mission-first mindset.”