The Air Force has awarded a Bronze Star medal to TSgt. Lorenzo Zapata for meritorious conduct while deployed to Southwest Asia, where he served as a convoy commander for eight months. Deployed from Ramstein’s 435th Vehicle Readiness Squadron, Zapata typically led 50 personnel, operating more than 40 vehicles for each mission, during which they delivered supplies to forward operating locations in Iraq. (Ramstein report)
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.