The 12th Secretary of the Air Force, John C. Stetson died Aug. 2 at his home in Lake Forest, Ill. Stetson served as Secretary from June 1978 to May 1979. He graduated from MIT with a degree in aeronautical engineering and during World War II worked at Douglas Aircraft before taking a commission in the Navy as a communications officer. After the war he had several engineering and consulting jobs, becoming a partner at Booz Hamilton Allen, where he oversaw several programs for military and commercial aircraft. Before becoming Secretary, Stetson served in several executive positions in publishing, business machine, and other companies.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.