During his first trip to Southwest Asia, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne awarded the Bronze Star to Lt. Col. Ed O’Neal for his actions during a terrorist attack in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, on May 29, 2004. O’Neal helped rescue a family trapped in a burning apartment and aided Saudi security forces in their efforts to locate the terrorists. O’Neal was a military training advisor at the time. He is back in SWA as the US Central Command Air Forces forward personnel and manpower director.
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.