Maj. Douglas A. Gimlich was named recipient of the second place individual award in the Pentagon’s 2008 chief information officer awards program, and Lt. Col. Angela J. Burth received third place honors, the Department of Defense announced Oct. 31. Gimlich is assigned to US Air Forces in Europe headquarters; Burth works on the Joint Staff. Pentagon CIO John Grimes selected the recipients from among 80 nominations worldwide. These awards, in their eighth year, recognize exemplary performance in information management and information technology management. Army Lt. Col. Anthony O. Evans of Ft. Belvoir, Va., received the first place individual award, while US Strategic Command’s joint task force global network operations took home the first-place team award.
The Air Force's new Aircraft Readiness Unit will maintain and provide Collaborative Combat Aircraft for operations, but won’t serve as a “schoolhouse” teaching fighter pilots how to manage these escort drones.