According to the new commander of 20th Air Force, the 20th is going through a major transformation. “I would like to think about smarter, better, more efficient ways we can accomplish our mission in today’s environment,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Deppe during his first base visit to Minot AFB, N.D. Deppe highlighted the $6 billion modernization effort as an example of the nation’s investment in ICBM force, noting that by 2012 there will be “basically a completely new missile” in silos at Minot and at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., and Malmstrom AFB, Mont. Deppe credited a predecessor—Maj. Gen. Tom Neary—for initiating the numbered air force’s development of an ICBM Center of Excellence, which Deppe said will “take some of our best and brightest people and have them think about how we operate today.”
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
