Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne received warm praise Friday from the man who compelled him to resign. At a farewell parade and awards ceremony at the feet of the Air Force Memorial just outside Washington, Gates called Wynne a “staunch...

There Is More to the Story: In his last appearance with reporters as Air Force Secretary, Michael Wynne acknowledged that he and Defense Secretary Robert Gates disagreed on a variety of issues, including acquisition of the F-22 Raptor in sufficient...

The Army has created its own mini Air Force in Iraq, apparently with the full blessing of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, reports the New York Times. The news is only now leaking out; however, according to NYT, the Army established...

In his last Letter to Airmen as Air Force Secretary, Michael Wynne, wrote: "Your dedication, motivation, and commitment are nothing short of remarkable. … You instill a confidence among our allies and joint partners that only American air, space, and cyberspace power can deliver. … Every day, you impress me with your innovative spirit and impetus for action. … My heart is filled with pride in the accomplishments of America's airmen. It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your 21st Secretary of the Air Force." Wynne participated in a formal retirement ceremony June 20 at the Air Force Memorial (see above "Staunch Advocate.")

The White House on June 21 officially designated Michael Donley as the Acting Secretary of the Air Force. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has recommended that Donley and Gen. Norton Schwartz be nominated for Secretary and Chief of Staff of...

Army Gen. William Ward, head of the fledgling US Africa Command, said last week one of his highest priorities is establishing “adequate and predictable” inter- and intratheater airlift support for the command and its US interagency and African partners. Ward,...

US Africa Command is exploring the use of an Africa-centric Air Expeditionary Force cycle to support the command’s work on the continent. Army Gen. William Ward, AFRICOM commander, mentioned the potential application of the special AEF during a Capitol Hill...

In one of his last acts as Air Force Secretary, Michael Wynne told the audience on June 18 at the Air Force Cyberspace Symposium in Marlborough, Mass., that it is up to them to “determine if this mission succeeds or...

Airmen and cohorts in industry and NASA combined at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., to launch a Delta II expendable launch vehicle carrying the OSTM/Jason 2 satellite into orbit June 20. OSTM stands for Ocean Surface Topography Mission and describes the spacecraft’s...

It has been 15 years since the first delivery of the new C-17 airlifter. Airmen and officials at Charleston AFB, S.C., the site of the first operational C-17 unit, marked the occasion on June 14, according to a June 18...

As flooding continues to plague the Midwest, Air and Army National Guardsmen are still providing additional sand bag reinforcements and delivering much needed supplies. The latest effort, according to a June 20 National Guard Bureau release, was in Missouri, where...

The full House last week approved the 2008 war supplemental appropriations bill, which now includes the post-9/11 GI bill that targets veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan operations and was introduced by Sen. James Webb (D-Va.). Although Administration and other critics declared the new GI bill too costly, President Bush indicated in a statement June 20 that he would sign the war supplemental legislation and praised the new GI bill effort. Webb acknowledged the White House approval in a statement: The measure has "received meticulous scrutiny and the full support of every major veterans' organization. It will pay for a veteran's tuition, books, and a monthly stipend, along the lines of the benefits given to those who returned from World War II. As such, it fulfills the pledge I made on my first day of office to provide today's veterans with the opportunity to move forward into an absolutely first-class future. … I am looking forward to the President living up to his word." The Senate already has signed on to the GI bill measure, but it must now vote on the entire bill.

Air Sorties in War on Terrorism, Southwest AsiaJune 18, 2008 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 27 10 37 5,130 CAS/Armed Recon 62 56 118 15,188 Airlift 147 147 21,451 Air refueling 49 49 7,127 Total 351 48,896...