Gen. Duncan McNabb, speaking at the Airlift/Tanker Association convention Tuesday, called Air Mobility Command the “crown jewel” of the nation’s defense. He explained that every day AMC launches or lands an aircraft every 90 seconds to two minutes, conducting missions in the war on terror and for humanitarian operations such as Hurricane Katrina and the Pakistan earthquake. The general said AMC already had streamlined operations but the need to recapitalize aircraft and equipment while conducting the war on terrorism would force AMC to continue to refine operations. He told the mobility crowd, “You’re doing things faster, saving time, and turning aircraft quicker, which saves money and is creating dividends for the command.”
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.