Shining a Spotlight on the 2018 Outstanding Airmen of the Year
The Air Force Association will recognize the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2018 on Sept. 17, during the opening night of its Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md. A total of 36 nominees were considered, and an Air Force selection board chose the 12 winners on the basis of leadership, job performance, and personal achievement. The Outstanding Airman of the Year program debuted at AFA’s 10th annual National Convention in 1956, and the association has continued to shine a spotlight on the outstanding airmen from each major command every year since. Read the full story to learn more about each airman.
Preparation and Posture: How Air Mobility Command Prepared for Hurricane Florence
Air Mobility Command’s capabilities for rapid mobility across the globe have made it a centerpiece of USAF’s readiness, but its role in responding to domestic emergencies like Hurricane Florence is also a huge part of its mission. AMC’s preparations for the storm’s arrival began far before it came within beach-battering reach of North Carolina’s coastline, Col. Jimmy Canlas, vice commander of the 618th Air Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center) at Scott AFB, Ill., told Air Force Magazine in a recent interview. Read the full story by Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory.
Independent Group Reviewing USAFA Sports as Former Athletes Face Hazing Charges
Delta II Rocket Makes Final Flight
Saturday’s launch from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., of a NASA ice-monitoring satellite was the final one for the United Launch Alliance medium-lift Delta II rocket, frequently used for civilian and military launches. According to Aerojet Rocketdyne spokeswoman Mary Engola, whose company supplied the main and upper-stage engines, of the 155 Delta II launches, 58 have been for National Security Space purposes, including launches for the Defense Department, Air Force Research Laboratory, National Reconnaissance Office, US Air Force, Missile Defense Agency, and NATO. The Delta II began lifting payloads ranging from national security missions to commercial communications to Mars rovers in 1989. “The Delta II will go down in history as one of the world’s most successful launch vehicles, and we’re proud to be part of that legacy,” said Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne’s CEO and president. —Steve Hirsch
House, Senate Conferees Reach Agreement on Fiscal 2019 Spending Bill
NATO Head Hopes for Turkey S-400 Solution
Lockheed Martin Wins $7.2 Billion GPS III Satellite Contract
The Air Force on Friday announced it had selected Lockheed Martin for a fixed-price-type contract worth up to $7.2 billion for 22 GPS III follow on satellites. Boeing and Northrop Grumman, earlier this year, had decided not to challenge Lockheed Martin for the next round of GPS III satellites, which essentially guaranteed Lockheed would get the award. The Air Force said in Friday’s announcement it had saved five months by eliminating a layer of reviews and speeding source selection. Moreover, using a fixed-price contract means the contractor would be responsible for any cost overruns, according to the release. —Steve Hirsch
Pratt & Whitney Gets Two F-35 Engine Contracts, Worth $453.6 Million
The Pentagon on Thursday awarded Pratt & Whitney a combined $453.6 million for F-35 engine parts and labor. The first award, a $266 million cost-plus-incentive fee fixed price contract covers program administrative labor for depot activations, material and support equipment for depots, and mockup engines for the USAF, US Marine Corps, Navy, and non-US F-35 participants, according to a Pentagon release. A large portion of this contract, $83.6 million, covers USAF purchases. The second announcement, a $187.6 million modification to a previously awarded contract, covers initial spare parts and deployment spares for the F135 Lot 12 production contract. This modification covers fan modules, augmentors, gearbox modules, engine fans, and clutches. —Brian Everstine
RADAR SWEEP
—The Space-Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit satellite is officially operational, the Air Force announced. The satellite was launched on Jan. 19, and is now healthy and sending data to the Air Force’s Mission Control Station: SMC release.
—The Dutch Ministry of Defense will pull its deployed F-16s from the anti-ISIS fight at the end of the year, citing the decline in pace of operations and the upcoming transition to the F-35: Netherlands Ministry of Defense release.
—US Army Lt. Gen. Paul LaCamera took command of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve on Thursday, taking over command of the anti-ISIS fight from Army Lt. Gen. Paul Funk: DOD release.
—Pacific Air Forces and the Royal Malaysian Air Force held the first airman-to-airman talks Sept. 5-6 at JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The meeting will help set up future bilateral engagements between the US and Malaysia: PACAF release.
—The family of Capt. Michael Trubilla has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Continental Motors, which manufactured the engine in a Beechcraft Baron 95-B55. Trubilla, who was stationed at Offutt AFB, Neb., crashed in July 2016 while on a training flight with the LeMay Aero Club at Offutt: Omaha.com.