Air Force Civilian Dies in Iraq

The Pentagon announced that Navy Reserve Cmdr. Duane G. Wolfe, 54, of Port Hueneme, Calif., died May 25 from injuries suffered as a result of an improvised explosive device attack on his convoy southeast of Fallujah. Wolfe, who had deployed...

No “Battlestar Galactica” Here

The Air Force’s top civilian space official, Gary Payton, told lawmakers last week that the next-generation GPS III satellite program is on solid footing with its three-block acquisition approach where “each one delivers more capabilities for the warfighter, as opposed...

Dorgan, Conrad Advocate More UAV Work for Grand Forks

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) has petitioned the Air Force to place even more unmanned aerial vehicle operations at Grand Forks AFB, N.D., which already is slated to host both Predator-class and Global Hawk UAVs, even as he continues to push...

Lockheed’s GPS III Passes Key Review

Lockheed Martin announced last week that the GPS III team it is leading had “successfully completed the Preliminary Design Review stage,” enabling the team to begin the Critical Design Review phase. Teaming with Lockheed on the next-generation Global Positioning System...

Northrop Completes Initial MP-RTIP Testing

Northrop Grumman announced May 28 that it had verified system performance for the advanced radar capability under the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program intended for operational deployment on new Block 40 RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles. Duke Dufresne, Northrop...

Obama Extols Nellis Solar Project

On his May 27 stopover at Nellis AFB, Nev., President Obama described the base’s solar power effort as “the largest solar electric plant of its kind in the entire Western Hemisphere,” and one that will save the Air Force “nearly...

Corley Retirement Official

An Air Combat Command release has confirmed that Gen. John Corley, ACC commander since October 2007, plans to retire this fall. There's no word yet when the formal change of command would take place, installing newly confirmed Gen. William Fraser as the new ACC boss. Fraser currently serves as Air Force vice chief of staff. Gen. Howie Chandler, commander of Pacific Air Forces, has been nominated, but not yet confirmed, to replace Fraser as vice chief. (Side note: The Air Force has tapped Maj. Gen. Douglas Owens (confirmed for his second star on May 7) to become PACAF vice commander, but we've not heard who may replace Chandler in the top spot.) In the ACC release, Corley said: "After serving the world's greatest Air Force for 36 years, Alice and I are looking forward to beginning the next chapter of our lives. I am confident future airmen will continue the legacy of history's most dominant Air Force."

Saving Battle Creek

The Michigan National Guard has listed development of a new command and control mission facility as its top military construction project for 2010—now it just needs the money. In a May 27 statement, Rep. Mark Schauer (D) said his is...

Reserve F-16 Pilots Reaches 3K

Col. Michael Popovich, the commander of Air Force Reserve Command’s 944th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB, Ariz., has flown 3,000 flying hours in F-16 fighters. He made his milestone flight on May 20 during a training sortie, but he has...

Air Sorties in War on Terrorism, Southwest Asia

May 26, 2009 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 23 23 46 5,897 CAS/Armed Recon 25 82 107 14,216 Airlift 160 160 19,971 Air refueling 52 52 6,484 Total 365 46,568 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance...