Craig Duehring became the assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs during a recent ceremony. He is a 28-year Air Force veteran. “There is the continuing challenge of providing qualified personnel to continue to fight in the global war on terrorism,” Duehring told the Senate Armed Services during his confirmation hearing in December 2007. “We must reduce the stress on airmen and their families who are shouldering the burden of repeated operational rotations.”
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.