The 12th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, will be sending a second pilot for the second year in a row to the Air Force Thunderbirds Aerial Demonstration Team. Second Lt. Erin Slaughter reports that USAF has selected Lt. Col. Gregory Thomas to fill the T-Birds No. 1 position for the 2008 and 2009 air show seasons. Thomas will command the Thunderbird’s 120-person squadron.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.