Having recently captured another prize—the first was keeping the B-1B bomber at Ellsworth AFB, S.D.—in garnering a new centralized financial center for Ellsworth, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) lost no time in arranging for the Air Force to make a house call, armed with timetables and briefs on job opportunities. The service is sending a crew to Ellsworth on June 18 to brief the local populace about its plans for the new Air Force Financial Services Center—specifically what they need to know about seeking employment or obtaining contracting work. In a statement, Thune said the event offers the “first opportunity for interested members of the community and media to talk directly to the experts.”
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.