Daily Report

June 26, 2008

Putting Money Down

Following BRAC 2005, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico has made good on a pledge to provide money to ensure the Air Force can improve and expand operations at Cannon Air Force Base—and keep the new western base for special...

Sudden Early Retirement

Air Mobility Command disclosed June 25 that it plans to retire all its remaining KC-135Es by the end of September. As recently as February, the plan had been to ask Congress to let just 38 of the oldest tankers go,...

Defining a Virtual Headquarters

The Air Force's new Cyber Command (Provisional) plans to have the command establish initial operations this fall, even without a permanent headquarters, by operating in a "virtual environment" with staff spread across the US, according to a June 24 release. AFCYBER plans to set up operations with about 240 positions at 10 bases, including Barksdale AFB, La., home to the provisional HQ, as shown on this map. Earlier this year, the command laid out its organizational structure and noted, but did not specify, its intention to disperse HQ staff. In this latest release, the AFCYBER (P) commander, Maj. Gen. William Lord, said establishing a "virtual environment" will limit relocation of new command personnel until the Air Force selects a permanent site. Ultimately the command expects to have a headquarters staff of around 450, but it does not yet know whether it will tap more than the 240 it plans to fill this summer at the 10 identified locations or hold the positions open until the service announces a winner, now expected in fall 2009. (Includes AFCYBER report by Karen Petitt)

More Support for California

Abundant lightning strikes are keeping California battling widespread wildfires and seeking help from Air Force firefighting aircraft, including the North Caroline Air National Guard we reported yesterday and Air Force Reserve Command’s modular airborne firefighting C-130s from Colorado. According to...

Who’s On First?

The Air Force has confirmed to the Daily Report that Gen. Duncan McNabb, the Air Force vice chief of staff, will serve as Acting Chief of Staff when Gen. Michael Moseley steps down. McNabb will bridge the gap between Moseley...

Almost a Done Deal?

According to Rep. Jim Walsh (R-N.Y.), he has secured House Appropriations Committee approval for more than $10 million to support upgrades and construction for the New York Air National Guard new unmanned aerial vehicle mission in Syracuse. Per BRAC 2005,...

EW Has New Focus Group

The Air Force has created the Electronic Warfare Life Cycle Management Group to corral research, development, and evaluation of potential EW capabilities, according to a June 20 release. Some have criticized the Air Force for not stepping out with plans...

How Much for Black Programs?

The Pentagon’s Fiscal 2009 budget request includes about $34 billion in acquisition funding for so-called black programs, according to a Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments budget update, and that is about 19 percent of DOD’s overall procurement and R&D...

And the Omaha Trophy Goes To

The 341st Space Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., and the Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., are the recipients of the 2007 Deterrence Operation Trophy and the 2007 Space Operations Trophy, respectively. The citizens of Omaha, Neb., provided...

Briefer Briefs

The 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews AFB, Md., has received a new C-37B, flown in by Air Mobility Command boss Gen. Arthur Lichte, last week; the Gulfstream 550 will transport senior civilian and military leaders. • A number of Air...

Air Sorties from SWA

Air Sorties in War on Terrorism, Southwest AsiaJune 23-24, 2008 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 55 24 79 5,320 CAS/Armed Recon 123 104 227 15,783 Airlift 273 273 22,143 Air refueling 120 120 7,429 Total 699 50,675...