Maj. William Skinner, MSgt. Sean Houlihan, and SSgt. Christopher Ferrell, three airmen assigned to JB Charleston, S.C., each received a Bronze Star medal for meritorious service on June 3. The medals were presented by Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who visited the base that day. Skinner, 628th Force Support Squadron operations officer, was honored for his leadership in Afghanistan, where he oversaw more than 600 airmen at 24 austere locations. Houlihan, 628th Air Base Wing public affairs superintendent, received his medal for his still-classified activities as part of a US Special Operations Command task force. Ferrell, NCO in charge of training for the 628th Civil Engineer Squadron, received his Bronze Star for his actions during a six-month deployment in Afghanistan where he led an explosive ordnance disposal team on 64 combat missions. (Charleston report by 2nd Lt. Susan Carlson)
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3