SSgt. Howie Loughran, an explosive ordnance disposal airmen assigned to the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron at Aviano AB, Italy, received a Bronze Star for his leadership during deployment to Iraq. His team diffused more than 80 improvised explosive devices and destroyed more than 50,000 pieces of ordnance.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3