Daily Report

July 21, 2010

Cheaters Beware

Russia would gain no significant military advantage by trying to surreptitiously maintain a larger strategic nuclear arsenal than allowed under the New START arms control regime, Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of US Strategic Command, said Tuesday on Capitol Hill. Appearing...

Cyber Hiring Gets Speed Boost

The Air Force has been granted the authority to use streamlined federal hiring practices in order to fill more than 680 cyber-security positions expeditiously, according to officials with the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, Tex. This hiring authority,...

Focus on the Positive

Today’s high-fidelity flight simulators are vital, but they require sustained investment to keep pace with capability upgrades to the aircraft that they represent, Maj. Gen. Marke Gibson, operations specialist on the Air Staff, said Tuesday. “As soon as those two...

Clapper Makes Case to Be Nation’s Intel Czar

The director of national intelligence must be able to foster the cooperation and collaboration of the various US intelligence organizations in order to provide the national leadership with the best-possible intelligence, James Clapper said Tuesday. "Given the complexity and diversity of the intelligence community, we must view it as an enterprise of complementary capabilities that must be synchronized," Clapper told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Tuesday during his nomination hearing to be the next DNI, the nation's intelligence czar. He said he thinks the DNI position already has the authority to serve in this role, but, if confirmed, he would be open to exploring areas where its authority might be extended, such as broader oversight of intelligence spending. President Obama nominated Clapper in June for this post. Clapper is currently undersecretary of defense for intelligence. (AFPS report by Lisa Daniel) (Clapper's prepared remarks) (For more hearing documents, go to this SCCI Web page.)

World War II Airman Receives Distinguished Flying Cross

Retired Col. Claude Schonberger, a B-24 bomber pilot during World War II, has received a long-overdue Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism in February 1945 in the skies above Regensburg, Germany. “Despite the fact that it’s taken over 60 years...

Balad Hub for Helicopter Drawdown

Airmen assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, are helping the Army move its helicopters out of Iraq as part of the drawdown of US combat forces there. Army Apaches, Blackhawks, and other helicopters from...

Pakistan Makes Red Flag Debut

About 100 Pakistani airmen and a contingent of Pakistan air force F-16B fighters are taking part in the Red Flag multinational training exercise that runs through the end of July at Nellis AFB, Nev. This marks the first time that...

Utah Hospitality Project Gets New Developer

Air Force officials said Tuesday that the service has selected Utah-based commercial real estate developer DDRM to participate in the project to establish a commercial hospitality resort in Wasatch County, Utah, near Hill Air Force Base. DDRM will work with builder Wadman Corporation in completing the facility, which will offer discounted room rates for airmen and their families and give them access to world-class skiing and other recreational activities. The site is about 40 miles southeast of Hill. According to an Air Force release, Robert Moore, Air Force Real Property Agency director, approved the selection of DDRM on July 12. This came after Talisker Development Inc., the commercial developer initially tapped to participate in this hospitality project, withdrew its proposal.

McChord Stages Huge Enlistee Ceremony

Air Force officials at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash., have set a new mark for new recruits sworn in at one time at the base. During a July 17 ceremony, 201 high school graduates from Washington and Oregon enlisted, breaking the previous...

Lockheed Hits C-130J Production Milestone

Lockheed Martin announced Tuesday that it recently completed assembly of the 200th C-130J transport aircraft, representing a significant achievement for the airlifter program. “The C-130J proves itself on a daily basis while engaged in combat, peacekeeping, humanitarian, and disaster-relief operations,”...

Air Sorties from SWA 071210

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, July 12, 2010 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 25 58 83 12,993 CAS/Armed Recon 22 77 99 18,326 Airlift 189 189 33,290 Air refueling 55 55 8,701 Rescue 48 48 3,953 Total...