Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, told a Washington seminar yesterday that he supports the plan to reorganize the Air Force’s intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance apparatus. The long-time intelligence officer said, “We tucked intel under XO,” where it remained for about 10 years. At that time he was in favor of that structure for operational reasons, but he feels it led to some practical problems in the way the Air Force managed its intelligence operation. Now, “it’s just easier to manage with a separate [deputy chief of staff],” Hayden said. He noted that in making its ISR boss a three-star DCS, the Air Force has emphasized the fact that intel “isn’t a support function.”
Members of the Air Force Reserve’s 920th Rescue Wing helped save 11 airplane crash survivors off the coast of Florida on May 12. The Reserve Airmen were flying an HC-130J Combat King II and an HH-60W Jolly Green II on a routine training flight when a Coast Guard call diverted…