The Air Force’s enlisted force inducted former Air Force Secretary Michael Donley into the Order of the Sword. CMSAF James Cody led the ceremony, which took place on Sept. 13 at JB Anacostia-Bolling, D.C. Donley, who retired in June, became the 9th person in Air Force history to enter the order at the service’s headquarters level, states the service’s release. “Every time I was with Secretary Donley, he wanted to talk about you,” said Cody to the enlisted airmen gathered at the event. “He always had you—and all of our 690,000 airmen—on his mind. He truly cared about us,” said Cody. The order is the highest honor that the enlisted force can bestow upon an individual. “I am sincerely touched and humbled to be placed in the company of the many great Air Force leaders who have been honored to receive this award,” said Donley.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.