Gen. Mark Welsh, Air Force Chief of Staff, issued his 2013 reading list for airmen. The list features 14 books, but is not limited to reading recommendations since it also includes seven films, 11 pieces of art, 10 songs, three photographers’ galleries, and seven TED talks. These selections “highlight our heritage and fighting spirit, as well as encourage innovation and forward thinking,” wrote Welsh in his introductory message. “We are the world’s greatest air force because of our airmen . . . and we must continue to strengthen that team,” he stated. “Take a look at the list and find something that grabs your attention. Hopefully it’ll expand your mind, and ultimately make our great team even better,” he concluded. (See also the 2012 list.)
The Air Force awarded a $13.08 billion contract to the Sierra Nevada Corporation on April 26 for its Survivable Airborne Operations Center aircraft, the successor to the service’s E-4B “Doomsday” plane. Like the E-4B, officially called the National Airborne Operations Center, the SAOC will be meant to withstand a nuclear attack and keep…