Capt. Bob Bernazal, chief of the information operations integration strategy division within the 612th Air and Space Operations Center at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., has been named the Air Force-level Outstanding Information Operations Active Duty Company Grade Officer of the Year. He received this award July 30, being honored for his instrumental planning role in Operation Willing Spirit, the July 2008 mission led by the Colombian military that rescued 15 hostages, including three American in Colombia from the hands of the FARC terrorist group. “I’m very proud that information operations could bring its full power to bear in support of this mission,” said Bernazal, a nine-year USAF veteran and native of Kingwood, Tex. The award also recognized his efforts in developing and implementing a new plan for utilizing IO duty officers. (Davis-Monthan report by TSgt. Eric Petosky)
KC-46’s Refueling Boom Damaged While Refueling F-22s
July 8, 2025
A U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker suffered damage to its boom while refueling F-22 Raptors off the coast of Virginia on July 8, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed, with reported radio communication from the crew indicating the boom “detached.”