Daily Report

Aug. 20, 2012

Racking up the Sorties

Members of the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., last week surpassed 100 sorties in the Air Force’s F-35A strike fighter variant since beginning flight operations there in March. The wing, which runs Eglin’s joint F-35 schoolhouse, reached the...

Portraits in Courage

The Air Force released the latest volume in its Portraits in Courage series, honoring 20 airmen who displayed bravery and determination in the face of especially challenging or dangerous situations. “These exceptional airmen persisted through extraordinary circumstances, confronted unforeseen dangers,...

Dubie Gets Third Star for NORTHCOM Assignment

Maj. Gen. Michael Dubie, Vermont National Guard adjutant general since 2006, last week pinned on his third star for his new assignment as US Northern Command’s deputy commander at Peterson AFB, Colo. “That third star was richly earned and is...

Let the Sun Shine

The Air Force has entered into an agreement with SunEdison of Belmont, Calif., to design, finance, build, operate, and maintain a 14.5-megawatt photovoltaic solar array on the grounds of Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., announced service officials. SunEdison will erect the array...

Former Aviano Inspector General Faces Sexual Assault Charges

Lt. Col. James Wilkerson, former 31st Fighter Wing inspector general at Aviano AB, Italy, faces a court-martial for allegedly groping a female civilian base employee in March, announced Aviano officials last week. Specifically, the Air Force has charged Wilkerson, who was the wing's IG from January to May, with two counts of violating Article 120 of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice—for abusive sexual contact and aggravated sexual assault—and three counts of violating Article 133—for conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman. He faces a maximum sentence of more than 37 years of confinement if convicted in his trial this fall, said the officials. "The Air Force and the 31st Fighter Wing are dedicated to a culture where sexual assault is simply unacceptable and will not be tolerated," said Brig. Gen. Scott Zobrist, 31st FW commander, in an Aug. 16 release. To continue to the full report, click here.

Nuclear Weapons Program Graduates First Class

The first class recently graduated from the Air Force’s new graduate-level nuclear weapons certification program, announced Air Force Global Strike Command officials. The initial group of 15 graduates included CMSgt. Brian Hornback, AFGSC command chief, according to an Aug. 17...

Assured Deterrence and Shared Lefse

Norwegian defense chief Army Gen. Harald Sunde last week reviewed the Air Force’s nuclear deterrent arsenal on a visit to the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB, N.D. “This visit is intended to give General Sunde...

Managing Marines

Loadmasters from Westover ARB, Mass., prepped and loaded a C-5 transport to deploy 175 marines to Guatemala for counternarcotics operations with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Guatemalan police. These members of Air Force Reserve Command’s 439th Airlift Control Flight assisted...

Happier in Homestead

Maintainers and local volunteers earlier this month hoisted an F-4 Phantom II from its display plinth in the city of Homestead, Fla., and transported the jet to nearby Homestead Air Reserve Base for refurbishment. Members of Air Force Reserve Command’s...