Paul Airey, the first Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, received a memorable birthday present when Tyndall AFB, Fla., officials renamed the NCO Academy there in his honor. The dedication ceremony also marked the beginning of the academy’s 50th year of service. Airey, who retired at Tyndall in 1970, said, “I am proud and a little in awe,” while CMSgt. Thomas Schwenk, commandant of the NCOA, called him a “trailblazer for the enlisted corps.”
After years of experiments and tests, senior Air Force leaders say they're on the verge of using C-17s and other cargo aircraft to launch cruise missiles via airdrop, touting the development as a way to bolster the combat fleet and a major shift in the service’s mindset.