Eielson Air Force Base reactivates 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Eielson Air Force Base reactivated the 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron on June 1, consolidating three fighter generation squadrons into a single maintenance organization aimed at streamlining operations and boosting sortie generation for missions across the Pacific and Alaska’s homeland defense.

The ceremony also marked the merger and deactivation of the three fighter generation squadrons. Officials said the new construct brings together personnel, resources and expertise under a centralized unit designed to improve efficiency and support sustained flight operations.

“We are not going to go back to the traditional AMXS, it is essentially the old model with some deviations,” said Col. Joseph Gilpin, 354th Maintenance Group commander, “The new construct will consolidate maintenance resources, streamline command and control and increase strategic flexibility across the Pacific Air Force’s area of responsibility.”

The squadron’s lineage dates to the Cold War, when it supported the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina, working on aircraft including the F-100 Super Sabre, A-7D Corsair II and A-10 Thunderbolt II. It moved with the 354th Fighter Wing to Eielson in 1993 to support Pacific and Arctic operations. In 2024, the Air Force deactivated the 354th AMXS and replaced it with the 18th Fighter Generation Squadron to align with the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and strengthen homeland defense missions.

“It will combine the missions of the 355th and 356th with the 18th FGS mission while remaining organized through separate aircraft maintenance units,” said Maj. Allana Gallant, outgoing 355th FGS commander. “This restructuring strengthens our ability to support homeland defense in Alaska’s North American Aerospace Defense Command region and ensures continued fifth generation air superiority in one of the nation’s most strategically important theaters.”

During the ceremony, Gallant, Maj. Matthew Ward, former 356th FGS commander, and Maj. Renee Bohac, former 18th FGS commander, relinquished command of their squadrons. Bohac assumed command of the 354th AMXS.

“Our priority is that the Airmen do not see a decrease in the quality of their leadership,” Bohac said, “We want to continue to be the best leaders that they can have and be their voice since we’ll be the biggest squadron on base.”

The Air Force said the return to an AMXS structure aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen readiness, streamline maintenance and enhance combat capability across the wing.