Maj. Darren Brumfield, currently assigned to Dyess AFB, Tex., and MSgt. William Rapoza of Lackland AFB, Tex., have each received a Bronze Star medal for their meritorious service during deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively. Brumfield, who commands Dyess’ 7th Component Maintenance Squadron, got his medal for his work in standing up the first Afghan Air Wing in Kandahar. He also oversaw the safe transport of 215,600 pounds of cargo and more than 1,800 Afghans. Rapoza, medical readiness noncommissioned officer-in-charge of Lackland’s 59th Medical Support Squadron, served as lead medic of a security forces squadron in Baghdad during the first half of 2010. The medal recognizes his medical support of operations outside the wire. Brumfield’s award ceremony took place on Sept. 28; Rapoza’s was on Oct. 14. (Dyess photo caption by A1C Chelsea Cummings) (Lackland photo caption by SSgt. Robert Barnett)
Pentagon officials overseeing homeland counter-drone strategy told lawmakers that even with preliminary moves to bolster U.S. base defenses, the military still lacks the capability to comprehensively identify, track, and engage hostile drones like those that breached the airspace of Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for 17 days in December…