11/8/23

IT’S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE VERONICA NORKUS GRACED OUR LOCAL VOLLEYBALL COURTS WITH HER PRESENCE. SO WHAT IS THE FORMER PRESCOTT BADGER AND EMBRY-RIDDLE EAGLE UP TO THESE DAYS? SHE IS HELPING THE U.S. AIR FORCE FIND A NEW USE FOR ITS KC-135 STRATOTANKER. 

ACCORDING TO RTX, AN AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE COMPANY, NORKUS WAS PART OF A TEAM FROM COLLINS AEROSPACE THAT TESTED SYSTEMS TO TURN THE AERIAL TANKER INTO A COMMAND AND CONTROL PLATFORM. THE SYSTEM IS KNOWN AS INTELLIGENT GATEWAY, WHICH CAN TRANSMIT DATA TO MILITARY COMMANDERS TO HELP THEM MAKE DECISIONS FASTER DURING A CONFLICT. 

AIR FORCE OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT, AND ADDING INTELLIGENT GATEWAY TO THE KC-135 CAN HELP COVER GAPS IN COVERAGE. 

DURING HER VOLLEYBALL CAREER, NORKUS WAS AN ALL-REGION PLAYER AT PRESCOTT HIGH SCHOOL, AND TALLIED 128 KILLS DURING HER CAREER AT EMBRY-RIDDLE, WHERE SHE WAS ALSO NAMED AN NAIA SCHOLAR-ATHLETE.

****PHOTO OF VERONICA NORKUS DURING HER TIME WITH EMBRY-RIDDLE VOLLEYBALL.