According to the US Air Force Academy spokesman, Johnny Whitaker, the Washington meeting of the academy’s Board of Visitors was “an upbeat meeting.” The 15-member board commended the academy for changes that had been made following the sexual assault scandal. The Air Force’s response to the latest academy controversy—religious intolerance—left them less enthused, according to Whitaker. He termed USAF’s new religious guidelines “interim” and “still open for discussion.”
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.