According to the US Air Force Academy spokesman, Johnny Whitaker, the Washington meeting of the academy’s Board of Visitors was “an upbeat meeting.” The 15-member board commended the academy for changes that had been made following the sexual assault scandal. The Air Force’s response to the latest academy controversy—religious intolerance—left them less enthused, according to Whitaker. He termed USAF’s new religious guidelines “interim” and “still open for discussion.”
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.