Capt. Stephen, 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron operations officer and U-2 pilot, is welcomed back from a combat sortie by U-2 maintainers, physiological support technicians and fellow pilots at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 7, 2015. At any one time there are hundreds of people supporting U-2 operations, from the maintainers on the ground to the intelligence personnel who analyze the information that is gathered and disseminated by U-2 pilots during combat sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kentavist P. Brackin/released)