The man nominated to serve as the first confirmed assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration pledged to bring program discipline to the position—even if it means canceling struggling programs. “I am a firm believer in delivering programs on cost, on schedule, and meeting our requirements," Frank Calvelli told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his Feb. 17 confirmation hearing. "And if there's programs that are awry or not heading in the right direction, I have no problem either taking corrective action or terminating them."

The former Air Force C-17 pilot nominated to oversee the department’s installations came under fire during his confirmation hearing Feb. 17, as multiple senators pressed him over an editorial in which he advocated for the use of artificial intelligence to track extremism in the military. Ravi Chaudhary, nominated by the Biden administration to serve as assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment, and energy, tried to walk back that argument during the hearing, saying he regretted the article and pledging not to use AI in such a manner if confirmed.

Col. Gail S. Halvorsen, who came to fame as the “Candy Bomber” of the Berlin Airlift, earning international goodwill for the United States and the Air Force, and who worked on Air Force space projects such as the Titan III, X-20 Dyna-Soar, and Manned Orbiting Laboratory, died Feb. 16 at the age of 101.

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III wrapped up a two-day NATO defense ministerial in Brussels saying Russia’s bluff withdrawal did not fool him, and that the alliance is only stronger, as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to add troops and air combat power to Belarus, Crimea, and the Black Sea to encircle Ukraine. “In many ways, this brings Russian troops right up to NATO's doorstep,” Austin told reporters after the conclusion of the 30-member meeting. “The Russians say that they are withdrawing some of those forces now that exercises are complete, but we don't see that,” he added. Austin said Russia had flown in more combat aircraft, sharpened readiness in the Black Sea, and stocked up blood supplies, including adding a field hospital and pontoon bridge. “I know firsthand that you don't do these sort of things for no reason, and you certainly don't do them if you're getting ready to pack up and go home,” the longtime Soldier said.

Nearly eight years after the Air Force switched to standardized “static” closeout dates for its enlisted Airmen’s performance reports, it is poised to do the same for most of its officer corps. Starting in October 2022 and extending into 2023, officers from O-1 to O-6 will transition to static closeout dates, the Air Force announced Feb. 17. 

The Department of the Air Force’s self-described “innovation arm” AFWERX plans to begin interviewing military spouses to permanently telework for many of its civilian job openings. If the hiring strategy works, it could serve as a pilot “that has the potential to grow into other organizations,” said AFWERX’s director, Air Force Col. Nathan P. Diller.