Maj. Bradley Downs and Maj. Daniel Roesch received the Cheney Award for their actions providing close air support to coalition ground forces in Afghanistan. Both serve as aircrew on Air Force Special Operations Command MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft. Pilot Downs and navigator Roesch flew a night mission to drop supplies, including much-needed ammunition, to Special Forces under attack from Taliban elements. Using nigh-vision goggles and flying low between the enemy and NATO forces, the MC-130H airdropped some 22,000 pounds of supplies within 15 yards of the target area. Downs is assigned to RAF Mildenhall, England, and Roesch to Hurlburt Field, Fla.
In the wake of a major Chinese military shakeup, the head of U.S. Space Command warned of China’s “breathtakingly fast” advances in space during visits to Japan and South Korea. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting’s trip to the Indo-Pacific is his first overseas visit since taking command of SPACECOM in January.