The Energy Department has given the Air Force six Federal Energy Management Program awards, recognizing the service’s important contributions to the efficient use of energy and water resources. This year’s winning Air Force organizations are: Air Mobility Command at Scott AFB, Ill.; Dyess AFB, Tex.; and Yokota AB, Japan. The winning Air Force individuals are: Lawrence Johnson from Minot AFB, N.D.; Elizabeth Toftemark from Scott; and Capt. Reid Touchberry from Misawa AB, Japan. The combined efforts of these organizations and individuals helped the Air Force save more than $155.7 million and 42 million gallons of jet fuel, said service officials in a July 26 release. “These men and women are a great example of what each airman can do to help the Air Force maintain an assured energy advantage,” said Kevin Geiss, the service’s deputy assistant secretary for energy. (Washington, D.C., report by Jennifer Elmore)
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.