Daily Report

Feb. 22, 2011

Airman Dies in Southwest Asia

A1C Christoffer P. Johnson, 20, of Clarksville, Tenn., died due to a non-combat-related incident in Southwest Asia while supporting Operation New Dawn, the Defense Department announced. Johnson died on Feb. 17. He was an installation entry controller assigned to the...

BONE Lancing

The Air Force would like to reduce the size of the B-1 bomber fleet from 66 to 60 aircraft in order to help pay for upgrades to the B-1s remaining in the inventory and support their long-term sustainability, Air Force...

In Reasonably Good Shape

The emergence of China’s J-20 and Russia’s T-50 stealth combat aircraft designs is not overly disconcerting, even with the latest delays to the F-35 strike fighter, said Defense Secretary Robert Gates last week. “I think that we’re in reasonably good...

Buy A Lot, Save a Lot

A no-brainer way to save money on defense items in lean times is through multiyear procurements, Air Force Materiel Command boss Gen. Donald Hoffman told attendees at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla., last week. Those who object to...

Air Commandos and the Osprey

The CV-22 is probably Air Force Special Operations Command’s most sophisticated aircraft, Lt. Gen. Donald Wurster, AFSOC commander, told the audience at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla., last week. AFSOC has 16 of the 50 CV-22s that it...

Command and Control Vital to Blunting Missile Threats

Theater ballistic missiles are a fast-proliferating threat in the Pacific region, said Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander. The only way to outwork the numerical superiority of these threats is to improve capability to detect and intercept them, he...

Gunning for the Right Solution

Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, anticipates that the Air Force will field a fleet of around 60 Common Vertical Lift Support Platform helicopters to supplant its Vietnam War-era UH-1N Hueys. Beyond that, Office of...

The Right Match for the Right Missions

The Air National Guard is a lean and responsive organization, both in its mission to state governors and its federal responsibilities, but isn’t meant to be all things to all missions, said Lt. Gen. Bud Wyatt, Air Guard director. “There...

Borderline Partners

The Air National Guard has opportunities to leverage the civilian employment of its members in new and emerging missions, such as cyber defense and remote piloted aircraft operations, said ANG Director Lt. Gen. Bud Wyatt last week. Air Guardsmen could...

Bronze Stars for USAFE Airmen

Three airmen assigned to US Air Forces in Europe headquarters at Ramstein AB, Germany, last week received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in Southwest Asia. Lt. Col. Antonio Castillo was recognized for his work in standing up NATO’s...