Airman Dies in Afghanistan

SrA. Daniel R. Sanchez, a combat controller assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., has died while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan, the Defense Department has announced. He was 23. A native of El Paso, Tex.,...

Airman Dies at Balad

SrA. James A. Hansen, has died of wounds suffered during a controlled detonation at JB Balad, Iraq, the Defense Department announced Thursday. Hansen, 25, of Athens, Mich., succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday, according to DOD (see our initial coverage)....

Mullen Salutes Air Force in Birthday Message

The Air Force “has lived up to its promise” of changing how the US military defends the peace and prevails in wars, writes Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in his birthday message to USAF, which...

New START Gets Senate Panel’s Approval

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted in favor of the New START arms control agreement with Russia on Thursday by a 14-4 margin. The treaty now moves to the full Senate for debate and a potential ratification vote later this...

Guam Welcomes First Global Hawk

Pacific Air Forces will formally welcome the first RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft to the 36th Wing at Andersen AFB, Guam, on Monday, says Gen. Gary North, PACAF commander. The aircraft arrived at Andersen at the beginning of the...

Conventional Thinking

Air Force Global Strike Command is still formulating its recommendations for how it will manage the portion of the B-52 bomber fleet that will lose the nuclear mission and perform only conventional roles henceforth under the United States’ new nuclear...

US, Russia Move to Thaw Military Relations

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov have signed a memo outlining a renewed US-Russia military relationship, acting to mend relations strained by Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia. “Today we begin what I believe will develop into...

Airborne Laser Nears Next Shootdown Attempt

The Missile Defense Agency has announced plans to conduct another flight experiment with the Airborne Laser Test Bed by month’s end. It will be an attempt to shoot down a solid-fuel ballistic missile off the southern California coast with the...

POW-MIA Exhibit Opens in Pentagon

A Pentagon corridor is now dedicated to the sacrifices of US prisoners of war and servicemen missing in action. Located in the building’s third floor, in Ring A between corridors 6 and 7, the permanent exhibit features a collection of...

Frequency Agency Now a Spectrum-Management Office

USAF officials on Thursday redesignated the Air Force Frequency Management Agency as the Air Force Spectrum Management Office during a ceremony at the organization’s headquarters in Alexandria, Va. The name change reflects last year’s decision to realign the organization under...

Air Sorties in SWA 090610

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, Sept. 6-7, 2010 Sortie Type OND OEF OND/OEF Total YTD ISR 46 146 192 18,066 CAS/Armed Recon 32 190 222 24,131 Airlift 346 346 43,367 Air refueling 116 116 11,896 Rescue 53 53 5,519 Total...