The 2006 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award winners have been selected: Lt. Col. Eric Axelbank, assigned to Kadena AB, Japan, won in the Senior Officer Category; Capt. Matthew Allen, at Pope AFB, N.C., won in the Junior Officer Category; MSgt. David John, of Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, won in the Senior Enlisted Category; and TSgt. Shannon Cruz, assigned to Ft. Lewis, Wash., won in the Junior Enlisted Category.
The $4.26 billion Small Business Innovation Research contracting program widely used by the Air Force went into hibernation as the government shut down Oct. 1, but unless lawmakers strike a deal on reforms, the program could reach an abrupt end.


