JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – To celebrate American’s 250th birthday, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson pulled out all the stops for this year’s iteration of Arctic Thunder Open House, which took place Aug. 8 and 9. ATOH 2026 included an intricate joint forces demonstration, more than 20 static displays and the return to JBER of the U.S. Navy demonstration team, the Blue Angels, for the first time in 10 years.
The biennial event showcased the capabilities of the joint force while giving visitors the opportunity to interact with service members, explore static aircraft displays and watch performances by military and civilian aviation teams. In addition to the Blue Angels, other aerial performers included the U.S. Army Parachute Demonstration Team, the Golden Knights; the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team and the Joint Forces Demonstration.
Throughout the event, visitors could explore aircraft and military vehicles, watch a military working dog demonstration, complete immersive virtual-reality missions through the Alaska Army National Guard ‘Soldier through the Last Frontier’ Challenge and talk to the military members who support missions across the base.
“Arctic Thunder gave us an incredible opportunity to connect with Alaskans while showcasing the people and capabilities that make up the joint force here in Alaska,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Amy Slinker, commander of the Alaska Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion. “Our Soldiers are part of the communities they serve; they live here, build careers here, raise families here and are ready to answer the call when Alaska needs them. It was great to see so many people engage with our service members and experience firsthand what we accomplish together.”
The success of the open house was the result of planning and coordination involving multiple organizations across JBER, as well as local partners. From security and emergency response to transportation, communications, airfield operations and event logistics, service members and civilian personnel worked together to ensure the event remained safe and accessible for attendees.
Lieutenant Col. Tabatha Zellhart, 673d Mission Support Group deputy commander, oversaw planning for everything that took place on the ground during the open house as the event’s co-director. She worked hand-in-hand with co-director Lt. Col. Ryan Murdock, 517th Airlift Squadron, who oversaw operations in the air. Zellhart’s team consisted of more than 100 Airmen and Soldiers from across all areas of JBER, some of them working for nearly two years to ensure this year’s open house was a success.
“Arctic Thunder Open House couldn’t have happened without all the dedicated service members and other supporting members of our team working tirelessly behind the scenes,” Zellhart said. “There is a lot that goes into organizing an open house, which most people never realize, but it’s crucial to ensure a successful event and I think ATOH was the most spectacular iteration of the open house that we’ve had in years. I’m beyond proud of the event my team was able to organize, and I’m glad we could share what we do here at JBER with our neighbors in the community and beyond.”
For many of the visitors who attended the event, the open house provided the opportunity to showcase more than military and aircraft capabilities. The event offered a firsthand look at the people behind the mission and the teamwork required to operate a joint military installation.
The event also served as an opportunity for JBER to strengthen its relationship with the surrounding community. As thousands of visitors across Alaska came together with service members, families and veterans, it created an environment centered on shared experiences and appreciation for the armed forces.
“We have such a great relationship with the community and it was an honor to showcase our capabilities to them at Arctic Thunder Open House 2026.” said U.S. Air Force Col. Daniel Werner, 673d Air Base Wing and JBER commander.