The 517th Airlift Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, flew its last sortie in a C-130 Hercules tactical transport on March 23. The unit, which has flown Herks for some 43 years, is transitioning to the new C-17 Globemaster III airlifter. The squadron commander, Lt. Col. Gary Gottschall commanded the last flight. Earlier this year, the unit marked its last combat flight, supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Lt. Gen. Stephen L. Davis, the Department of the Air Force’s top internal watchdog, has been nominated to lead Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees the service’s bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles.