Capt. Daniel Santoro, a C-130E instructor pilot with the 37th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany, received the Cheney Award from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz Oct. 8 during a ceremony in the Pentagon. Santoro was recognized for his planning leadership that allowed the 37th AS to execute 29 airlift missions that delivered 211 tons of humanitarian aid to Georgia after Russia’s August 2008 invasion of that nation. He credited his fellow airmen for the award. “The food and supplies that we airlifted saved lives and helped prevent a humanitarian disaster in the region. For that, my hat’s off to them,” he said. The Cheney Award, named for 1st Lt. William Cheney, who died in an air collision in 1918 over Italy, is presented annually to an airman who demonstrates valor or self-sacrifice in a humanitarian venture. (SAF/PA report by MSgt. Stan Parker)
The U.S. thwarted a drone attack on U.S. forces at Al Asad air base in western Iraq on April 22, marking the first time that American troops have been targeted since February, U.S. officials said. “We can confirm it was an attack on Al Asad,” a defense official told Air & Space…