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.
Boeing’s receipt of the 10th lot contract award for the KC-46 Pegasus this week leaves just three lots left to complete the Air Force’s buy of the tanker, although a further buy of 75 additional aircraft as a “bridge” to the Next-Generation Aerial-refueling System (NGAS) seems increasingly likely.