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)
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.