One of the first concrete changes that the new ANG director, Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley, has encountered in his new post is that of receiving a National Guard Bureau title—Vice Chief-Air—bestowed upon him by NGB chief Lt. Gen. Steven Blum. McKinley says the new title more aptly captures the joint composition of the NGB staff. Previously, the ANG director worked under that title and the NGB office symbol of NGB/CF—standing for what, if anything, we don’t know.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
