The Pentagon’s director for equal opportunity, Clarence Johnson, has been getting the word out that DOD wants to beef up its diversity—particularly with scientists and engineers. Speaking at the Minority Serving Institutions Research Partnerships Conference in Chicago, Johnson noted that backgrounds in engineering, math, and science open windows for students to military academies or employment as a DOD civilian and offer greater potential to reach senior leadership positions. Knowing the number of new engineers and scientists produced in the US is declining, Johnson says he wants to ensure parents and other “influencers” know DOD is hiring.
The crash of a T-38 trainer jet this May—which caused a weekslong pause in flights across the fleet—was caused by an improperly installed pin for one of the jet’s horizontal stabilizers, according to a new accident report released Oct. 30. When the pin disengaged midflight, it created the slightest amount…