The Air Force has shifted training of airfield operations officers to the Air National Guard, with the graduation of the last active duty-run class Oct. 22 at Altus AFB, Okla., reports Capt. Allen Alfred. Over the 11 years Altus ran the 40-week program, it graduated 170 officers, all trained by enlisted air traffic controllers and airfield management technicians. The officers then underwent 18 months of upgrade training on the job. The Air Guard will train new airfield ops officers under a new two-year program, producing fully qualified officers, ready for deployment.
The Pentagon's list of 14 top technology priorities has been slimmed to six, to ensure they get the attention they need, Defense Research and Engineering director Emil Michael announced. Changes may be coming in authorities for funding them, as well.
