Air / SOF Aviation Exercise Control SME, SOCPAC

The Unconventional; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Unconventional is seeking a qualified Air/SOF Aviation Exercise Control SME to support our team on multiple SOCPAC exercise events in Oahu, HI. The SME provides aviation and airspace C2 expertise within the SOCPAC ECG and ensures realism in air planning and MSEL injection timelines.

The role requires coordinating with the USPACOM Air Cell to develop ATO/ACO/SPINS, injecting weather diversions and threats to drive decision-making, and supporting CPX events with a 12-hour shift schedule.

Qualifications

• Must have Air/SOF Aviation experience including air planning, long-range infiltration/exfiltration, personnel recovery, aerial refueling, and CAS.
• Experience supporting SOF training and exercise events.
• Able to conduct 12-hour shift work during exercise support.
• Must possess or be able to obtain TS/SCI security clearance.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite tools.

Responsibilities

• Synchronize aviation-specific MSEL injects with the Exercise Design Lead to realistically test air planning, long-range infiltration/exfiltration, personnel recovery, aerial refueling, and CAS within the Pacific theater constraints.
• Coordinate with the USPACOM Air Cell to develop and synchronize synthetic Air Tasking Orders (ATO), Airspace Control Orders (ACO), and SPINS, while adjudicating training audience requests for airspace coordination and control measures.
• Dynamically inject aviation friction—including weather diversions, contested airspace threats, and maintenance casualties—to drive realistic staff decision-making.
• Exercise support is expected to take place: Keen Sword CPX, 16–28 OCT 2026 in Oahu, HI; PACSENTRY 27-1 CPX, 31 MAR – 15 APR 2027 in Oahu, HI; PACSENTRY 27-2 CPX, 31 MAY – 17 JUN 2027 in Oahu, HI.

Skills

Air/SOF Aviation experience

SOF training/exercises experience

12-hour shift work

TS/SCI security clearance

Microsoft Office proficiency

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Summary

The Unconventional is seeking a qualified Air/SOF Aviation Exercise Control SME to support our team on multiple SOCPAC exercise events. The Air and Aviation SOF SME provides technical aviation and airspace command and control (C2) expertise within the SOCPAC ECG.

Summary

The Unconventional is seeking a qualified Air/SOF Aviation Exercise Control SME to support our team on multiple SOCPAC exercise events. The Air and Aviation SOF SME provides technical aviation and airspace command and control (C2) expertise within the SOCPAC ECG.

Duties

Specific duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Working in close partnership with the Exercise Design Lead, the SME synchronizes aviation-specific MSEL injects to realistically test air planning, long-range infiltration/exfiltration, personnel recovery, aerial refueling, and specialized Close Air Support (CAS). The contractor ensures all air MSEL events adhere to realistic flight timelines, fuel consumption, weapon configurations, and basing/staging constraints inherent to the distances of the Pacific theater.
• Throughout the CPX, the SME coordinates with the USPACOM Air Cell to develop and synchronize synthetic Air Tasking Orders (ATO), Airspace Control Orders (ACO), and Special Instructions (SPINS), while adjudicating training audience requests for airspace coordination and control measures. The contractor dynamically injects aviation friction—including weather diversions, contested airspace threats, and maintenance casualties—to drive realistic staff decision-making.
• Exercise support is expected to take place:
  • Keen Sword CPX, 16 – 28 OCT 2026 in Oahu, HI.
  • PACSENTRY 27-1 CPX, 31 MAR – 15 APR 2027 in Oahu, HI.
  • PACSENTRY 27-2 CPX, 31 MAY – 17 JUN 2027 in Oahu, HI.

Required Qualifications

• Must possess Air/SOF Aviation experience: air planning, long-range infiltration/exfiltration, personnel recovery, aerial refueling, and specialized Close Air Support (CAS).
• Must have experience supporting SOF training and exercise events.
• Must be able to conduct 12-hour shift work during exercise support events.
• Must possess or be able to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance.
• Must possess proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite tools.

Clearance:

Requires an active SECRET clearance.

Location:

Oahu, HI

Travel:

CONUS and OCONUS travel may be required.