The Air Force Association bestowed its Lifetime Achievement award on retired CMSAF Paul Airey, presenting the award to the 85-year-old top airman at the Senior NCO Academy in Alabama last week. Airey is the first enlisted person to receive the prestigious award, reports Carl Bergquist. According to AFA Chairman of the Board Bob Largent, the award to Airey is “past due.” At the ceremony, current CMSAF Rodney McKinley said, “In my opinion, Chief Airey is the most respected enlisted airman in the Air Force.”
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.