311th Human Systems Wing

The 311th Human Systems Wing was an inactive United States Air Force organization based at Brooks City-Base in San Antonio, Texas. Although the supplied name refers to the 311th Air Base Group, the authoritative subject is the 311th Human Systems Wing, the Air Force formation that existed from 1998 until 2009 and whose lineage extended through several earlier aerospace-medical and human-systems organizations. The wing represented a long institutional effort to improve the safety, health, performance, and effectiveness of military personnel. Its roots reached back to the Medical Research Laboratory established by the United States Army Air Service at Hazelhurst Field, New York, on 19 January 1918. That organization studied aviation medicine, low-pressure environments, psychological screening, and other problems associated with flight. After moving through Mitchel Field, Brooks Field, and Randolph Field, its successors developed into the School of Aviation Medicine and later the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. A major reorganization took place in 1961, when the Air Force established the Aerospace Medical Division at Brooks. The division brought research, education, clinical medicine, laboratories, and related operational support under a single headquarters. Its work initially focused on aviation and space medicine, but its remit broadened over time to include human performance, personnel research, occupational and environmental health, epidemiology, drug testing, protective equipment, and biotechnology. The organization supported Air Force personnel and participated in selected national aerospace programs, including medical preparation and post-flight evaluation connected with Project Mercury. During the Vietnam War, the division expanded aerospace-medical education and added instruction related to tropical disease and aeromedical evacuation. It also supported field health services and contributed to the development of protective equipment for aircrews. Research into chemical protection and other environmental hazards later became important during the Gulf War and other overseas operations. The organization was redesignated the Human Systems Division in 1987 as the Air Force reorganized its laboratories and functional commands. In 1990, consolidation of Air Force laboratories made Brooks the location of a major aerospace-medical research center, including the Harry G. Armstrong Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory. Following the creation of Air Force Materiel Command, the organization became the Human Systems Center in 1992. It was redesignated the 311th Human Systems Wing on 1 October 1998 and placed under the Aeronautical Systems Center. The wing focused on aerospace medicine, environmental safety, occupational health, and human-centered research and development. Its associated organizations included the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, the 311th Mission Support Group, and successor or predecessor research and medical units. On 2 October 2009, the wing was inactivated. The 311th Mission Support Group was redesignated the 311th Air Base Group to oversee remaining installation-support and closure activities at Brooks City-Base. Brooks subsequently moved toward closure as an Air Force installation under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process, with some support functions transferred to nearby Randolph and Lackland Air Force Bases. The name therefore describes a historical military organization rather than an active commercial brand.

The institutional history of the 311th Human Systems Wing begins with the Army Air Service Medical Research Laboratory created at Hazelhurst Field on Long Island on 19 January 1918. Early work examined low-pressure chambers, aviation physiology, and psychological selection. When Hazelhurst closed after the First World War, the laboratory moved to Mitchel Field and was combined with the School for Flight Surgeons. In 1922 the combined organization became the School of Aviation Medicine. It moved to Brooks Field in 1926 and to Randolph Field in 1931, following the expansion of Air Corps flight training in Texas. A separate aviation-environment laboratory was established at Wright Field, Ohio, in 1935. Under Captain Harry G. Armstrong, it investigated the physical stresses experienced by military aviators and contributed to practical pressurized-cabin development. In 1949, the Human Resources Research Center was created at Lackland Air Force Base to study classification, testing, and personnel effectiveness. These efforts were initially divided among different Air Force commands and institutions. The Air Force identified the need for a unified medical center in 1946, but construction at Brooks did not begin until 1957. In 1959, the Aerospace Medical Center was formed at Brooks to consolidate aerospace-medical research, clinical care, and education. On 1 November 1961, the Aerospace Medical Division was established as a headquarters under Air Force Systems Command. It managed laboratories, a medical school, a hospital, a clinic, and related research organizations. The division's mission gradually expanded from the health of aircrew to a broader study of human performance and life-support requirements. During the 1960s, the division supported Project Mercury by preparing astronauts medically and examining them after missions, although NASA increasingly took primary responsibility for space-medicine research. The Air Force organization remained involved in Air Force-led space and aviation programs. During the Vietnam War, it increased medical-specialist training, introduced tropical-disease and aeromedical-evacuation courses, supported health services in Saigon, and contributed to aircrew protective equipment and aircraft-related human-factors work. In the 1970s, occupational and environmental health became a major responsibility. Laboratories at McClellan, Kelly, and Wright-Patterson were combined into the Air Force Occupational and Environmental Health Laboratory at Brooks. The organization also moved beyond research into the development and fielding of biotechnology systems. Hospital and clinic responsibilities were later transferred elsewhere, allowing the principal organization to concentrate more heavily on research, testing, acquisition, and operational support. As part of Department of Defense streamlining associated with the Packard Commission, the Aerospace Medical Division became the Human Systems Division on 6 February 1987. In December 1990, Air Force Systems Command consolidated its laboratories, and Brooks became the home of the Harry G. Armstrong Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, one of the resulting large laboratory organizations. The organization became the Human Systems Center on 1 July 1992 after the creation of Air Force Materiel Command. The Human Systems Center supported Gulf War operations, including work involving chemical-protective equipment. Its broader role included human-centered research, development, acquisition, and specialized operational assistance. In 1997, the Air Force Research Laboratory consolidated the major Air Force laboratories, and functions formerly associated with the Armstrong Laboratory were reorganized within the laboratory's Human Effectiveness Directorate. The remaining Human Systems Center was redesignated the 311th Human Systems Wing on 1 October 1998 and assigned to the Aeronautical Systems Center. The wing continued aerospace-medical, environmental-safety, occupational-health, and human-systems activities until its inactivation on 2 October 2009. Its 311th Mission Support Group became the 311th Air Base Group, which administered residual operations and closure functions at Brooks City-Base. The Air Force presence at Brooks then wound down as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure program, with selected support duties moved to Randolph and Lackland.

• 2009

  Wing inactivated

  [1]311th Human Systems Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing was inactivated on 2 October. Its mission-support group became the 311th Air Base Group for residual Brooks installation duties.

• 1998

  311th Human Systems Wing created

  [1]311th Human Systems Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The Human Systems Center was redesignated the 311th Human Systems Wing on 1 October and assigned to the Aeronautical Systems Center.

• 1992

  Redesignated Human Systems Center

  [1]311th Human Systems Wingen.wikipedia.org

  On 1 July, the organization became the Human Systems Center under Air Force Materiel Command.

• 1987

  Redesignated Human Systems Division

  [1]311th Human Systems Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization adopted the Human Systems Division designation on 6 February during Air Force restructuring.

• 1961

  Aerospace Medical Division activated

  [1]311th Human Systems Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The Aerospace Medical Division was constituted and activated on 1 November at Brooks, consolidating major Air Force aerospace-medical functions.

• 1922

  School of Aviation Medicine formed

  [1]311th Human Systems Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The research laboratory and flight-surgeon school were reorganized as the School of Aviation Medicine.

• 1918

  Medical Research Laboratory established

  [1]311th Human Systems Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The Army Air Service established a medical research laboratory at Hazelhurst Field, creating the earliest direct predecessor of the wing's aerospace-medical lineage.

A United States Air Force research, medical, and support organization focused on the interaction between people, military systems, and demanding operational environments.

• Research and medical education · 1961

  Aerospace medicine research

  The organization conducted research and training related to flight physiology, aviation medicine, space medicine, aeromedical evacuation, and the medical preparation of military personnel and astronauts. Its facilities also provided testing and post-mission assessment for selected aerospace programs.

• Human systems research · 1949

  Human-performance and personnel research

  Human-systems work covered psychological assessment, personnel classification, human effectiveness, operational performance, and the design of systems around military users. These activities evolved from earlier personnel-research laboratories and later formed part of the Air Force's broader human-effectiveness research structure.

• Military health and safety · 1976

  Occupational and environmental health

  The wing's predecessors operated laboratories and programs addressing occupational hazards, environmental exposure, epidemiology, radiological concerns, and drug testing. This work supported Air Force risk management and the protection of personnel working in demanding or hazardous environments.

• Operational support and equipment · 1960

  Protective-equipment research

  Research and operational support included chemical-protective equipment, aircrew body armor, and other technologies intended to preserve human performance and survivability in combat or environmentally challenging conditions. Such work supported Air Force operations in Southeast Asia and Southwest Asia.

• 2009

  Inactivation and Brooks transitionOther

  Background

  The Air Force was reducing its presence at Brooks City-Base as the installation moved toward closure under the Base Realignment and Closure process.

  Action taken

  The 311th Human Systems Wing was inactivated, while its mission-support organization was redesignated the 311th Air Base Group to manage remaining installation operations and closure activities.

  Aftermath

  The Air Force presence at Brooks was subsequently wound down, with some support functions transferred to Randolph and Lackland Air Force Bases.

  Source

• 1997

  Laboratory consolidationStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force aimed to reduce duplication and simplify management of its research infrastructure.

  Action taken

  Its four large laboratory organizations were consolidated into the Air Force Research Laboratory, with former Armstrong Laboratory functions reorganized into the Human Effectiveness Directorate.

  Aftermath

  The Human Systems Center became smaller and more specialized before its 1998 conversion into the 311th Human Systems Wing.

  Source

• 1987

  Shift to the Human Systems DivisionStrategy

  Background

  Department of Defense organizational streamlining required the Air Force to restructure functional and laboratory responsibilities.

  Action taken

  The Aerospace Medical Division was redesignated the Human Systems Division on 6 February 1987.

  Aftermath

  The new designation reflected a mission broader than aeromedical care, including human performance, environmental health, and systems-oriented research.

  Source

• 1961

  Consolidation of aerospace-medical functionsStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force sought a unified center for aerospace-medical research, education, and clinical functions after years of responsibilities being distributed among different commands and locations.

  Action taken

  It established the Aerospace Medical Division at Brooks and placed major research, medical, educational, and support organizations under a common headquarters.

  Aftermath

  The consolidation created the institutional foundation for later human-systems, occupational-health, and operational-support missions.

  Source

1. 1311th Human Systems Wingen.wikipedia.org