The Air Force has awarded a second Bronze Star medal to SMSgt. Ken Pettibone, an explosive ordnance disposal technician at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, for his actions while deployed for more than a year to Iraq—his fifth deployment to Southwest Asia. This time, Pettibone led a weapons intelligence team at forward operating bases, investigating the aftermath of improvised explosive devices. (Spangdahlem report by SMSgt. Cheryl Toner)
The Air Force on March 12 awarded contract modifications worth a combined $2.4 billion to Boeing to procure an undisclosed number of E-7 Wedgetail as part of the program's engineering and manufacturing development phase and continue work on the airborne battle management aircraft’s radar.