 Other Joint Chief of Staff exercises included Ember Dawn IV in Alaska and Brave Shield in Europe.In 1979, the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve assumed full responsibility for airlift operations in Panama.In mid-December 1989, squadron aircraft, aircrews, and support personnel deployed for Exercise Volant Oak at Howard Air Force Base, in the Panama Canal Zone It flew combat airlift missions for United States Southern Command during Operation Just Cause, the replacement of Manuel Noriega as the ruler of Panama.