Danish Minister of Defense Soren Gade on Feb. 27 in Copenhagen signed a memorandum of understanding for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production and sustainment and follow-on development, making Denmark the ninth and final partner nation to continue with the JSF program. Italy signed earlier this month, following Australia, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, and the US. According to a Lockheed Martin release, Air Force Brig. Gen. C.R. Davis, F-35 program executive officer, called the signing event “not the end of a process but rather the beginning of constructing the world’s greatest airpower coalition.”
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.