Daily Report

Defense Secretary Robert Gates wants so see at least 50 general and flag officer positions eliminated over the next two years, along with 150 senior civilian executive posts, according to a memo that he's just released. To support the process of making these reductions, Gates says a "a comprehensive assessment" will be completed by Nov. 1 that examines these senior-level positions and "the accoutrements that go with them." These top-level cuts are among the numerous efficiency initiatives that Gates is pushing to shed excess and duplication across the Defense Department and instill a culture of savings and restraint. He hopes that these efforts will free up more than $100 billion over five years that can be redirected to modernization and personnel needs. The Aug. 16 memo outlines many of these overhead-reducing moves, including one blockbuster that he's already recommended: dissolving US Joint Forces Command. (Gates memo)

Pentagon acquisition chief Ash Carter has given his blessing for the Air Force to move forward in its quest for a new military weather-monitoring satellite. DOD Buzz reports that Carter has signed an acquisition decision memorandum directing the Air Force...

Trouble with test equipment has delayed Wednesday’s scheduled test of the Airborne Laser Test Bed off of the coast of southern California until at least Saturday, according to the Missile Defense Agency. There was “a problem with the tracking camera...

The Air Force’s enlisted leader says the typical time-gap between Airman Leadership School and the Noncommissioned Officer Academy is too long and could slow an airman’s professional development. “We need to close that gap,” said Chief Master Sergeant of the...

Just 109,883 of the 400,000 “don’t ask-don’t tell” surveys handed out to service members found their way to the Pentagon’s inbox by the Aug. 15 deadline, according to various press reports. That’s only about a 27 percent response rate, despite...

The Iraqi army is back at Joint Base Balad for the first time in seven years. The 4th Battalion, 17th Army Brigade is the first of several Iraqi units to return to the base, which has been USAF’s largest operating...

The Air Force continues to post strong recruiting numbers in 2010. USAF met its active duty goal in July and far exceeded the targeted accessions in its reserve components for the month, according to the Defense Department’s latest figures issued...

Air Force officials may present an alternate strategy to the defense acquisition board by September for acquiring next-generation communications terminals for the nuclear deterrence mission. Global Security Newswire reports that USAF is preparing the alternative plan as a hedge since...

Air Force Office of Special Investigations agents played a key role in the conviction of Noshir Gowadia, a former Northrop Grumman B-2 engineer, for spying for China. A federal court earlier this month found Gowadia, 66, of Maui, Hawaii, guilty...

Rockwell Collins has won the rights to upgrade the instrumentation at the Air Force’s test ranges as well as those of the Army and Navy. USAF chose Rockwell over Boeing, awarding an initial contract valued at $140 million—with options worth...

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, August 12, 2010 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 25 67 92 15,753 CAS/Armed Recon 20 89 109 21,359 Airlift 192 192 38,928 Air refueling 58 58 10,383 Rescue 21 21 4,793 Total...