SrA. Daniel Johnson was killed in action Tuesday during an explosive ordnance disposal operation in an area west of Kandahar, Afghanistan, the Air Force has announced. The 23-year-old airman was assigned to the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron’s EOD flight at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Johnson died when an improvised explosive device detonated near him. He was transported to a hospital at Kandahar Airfield and was pronounced dead soon thereafter. TSgt. Robert Butler, another EOD specialist from Vandenberg who was working with Johnson, was injured in the blast. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of Airman Johnson and Sergeant Butler during this extremely difficult time,” said Col. Richard Boltz, commander of Vandenberg’s 30th Space Wing.
A dozen and a half Air Force Reservists formally transferred to the Space Force on July 15, becoming the new service’s first 18 part-time Guardians. The move is the culmination of more than two and a half years of work to create a system unlike any other military branch.