CMSgt. James Tauscher, currently assigned to the 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, received a Bronze Star medal last year for his actions as a combat aviation advisor to the Coalition Air Forces Transition Team in Iraq. During a deployment of more than one year, Tauscher led more than 140 coalition C-130 maintenance technicians who supported units that transported key Iraqi government and military officials. Tauscher received the medal during a ceremony at Hickam on May 8, 2008. We just became aware of Tauscher’s award. It’s never too late to give someone proper recognition.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.