The US Air Force Academy Association of Graduates has selected retired Gen. Hansford T. Johnson (Class of 1959) and retired Gen. Michael E. Ryan (Class of 1965) for its 2006 Distinguished Graduate awards. Johnson, who was the first USAFA graduate to achieve four-star level, last served as commander of US Transportation Command and Military Airlift Command (now Air Mobility Command). Ryan was the second academy graduate to become the Air Force Chief of Staff—the first was his father Gen. John D. Ryan.
As near-peer adversaries have increased their reach and lethality, the U.S. Air Force is accelerating the tanker fleet recapitalization and aggressively pulling forward the Next Generation Aerial Refueling System (NGAS) to meet the threat. Globally operating the KC-46A has advanced mission...