Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Oct. 25 called on Congress to resolve the budget sequestration issue as soon as possible after the Nov. 6 national election. He urged the lawmakers to act during the lame-duck session to prevent sequestration from...

Air Force Secretary Michael Donley met with the Basic Military Training leadership and military training instructors at JBSA-Lackland, Tex., to see first-hand how they are instituting corrective actions following a sexual abuse scandal in BMT. “It was important for me...

The Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin an $82 million contract to begin work on GEO-5 and GEO-6, the fifth and sixth Space Based Infrared System missile warning satellites, announced the company. This initial contract covers “complete non-recurring engineering activities” and...

State Department officials cut the ribbon on the modernized US Nuclear Risk Reduction Center in Washington, D.C. “This new center will enhance our notification and communication structures with the benefit of modern technology, so we can keep evolving to meet...

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta welcomed South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin at the Pentagon this week for the 44th US-South Korea security consultative meeting. Panetta said the two countries would continue to enhance “close alliance cooperation” in areas such as...

The 31st Maintenance Squadron at Aviano AB, Italy, unveiled the base’s first locally painted F-16 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the base’s new NATO-funded Corrosion Control Facility. Opened on Oct. 19, the facility will enable maintainers to sustain and extend...

The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire will dedicate an exhibit of artifacts honoring Korean War triple ace Capt. Joseph McConnell on Veteran's Day weekend, announced museum officials. The exhibit opens on Nov. 10, according to the museum's release. "The heroic service of Capt. Joseph C. McConnell has faded from memory over the years, and it is for this reason that the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire is planning to recognize his unique and gallant service with a celebration," said Jack Ferns, the museum's executive director. After serving as a B-24 navigator in World War II, McConnell graduated flight training in 1948, and went on to fly F-86 Sabre jets over Korea. He downed 16 MiGs in just four months, becoming the highest scoring US ace of the war. He received both the Distinguished Flying Cross and Silver Star for his actions in combat. The New Hampshire native died when the F-86H that he was test flying crashed near Edwards AFB, Calif., on Aug. 25, 1954. (See also Air War Korea, 1950-53 and MiG Alley from Air Force Magazine's archives.)

In advance of China’s anticipated political leadership change later this year, China reshuffled some of its top military ranks, naming Gen. Ma Xiaotian commander of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, reported Reuters. Ma replaces Gen. Xu Quiliang at a...