CMSgt. Dominick Tallarida and MSgt. Shawn Williams each received a Bronze Star Medal on Aug. 31 in separate ceremonies for their meritorious service in Iraq and Afghanistan, respectively. Tallarida, assigned to Air Force Reserve Command’s 916th Air Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., distinguished himself as a combat advisor in Iraq in 2008 and 2009. Just after receiving his Bronze Star, he was formally promoted to chief master sergeant. Williams, a senior joint terminal attack controller assigned to the Army’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team at Ft. Hood, Tex., was recognized for his actions in leading a 16-member team in close air support operations in Afghanistan from July 2008 to January 2009. His team is credited with saving countless coalition and civilians lives. (Randolph report by Kelly Parsons and Seymour Johnson report by Maj. Shannon Mann)
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.
