Air Force Secretary Michael Donley visited Vandenberg AFB, Calif., June 15-16 to tour the base’s facilities and meet with airmen of the 30th Space Wing. Among his stops was the Joint Space Operations Center, the US military’s hub for managing its space activities, where Lt. Gen. Larry James, 14th Air Force commander, briefed him. “Building the JSpOC mission system is a priority for the Air Force,” said Donley. On June 16, Donley witnessed the test launch of a Minuteman III ICBM. He said the Air Force is focused on sustaining Minuteman out to 2030. “We have not yet reached the point where we are ready to consider or commit to a next-generation ICBM,” he said. Donley said spending time with Vandy’s airmen was the highlight. “They are incredibly talented and are doing great work for our nation,” he said. (Vandenberg release by SrA. Heather R. Shaw)
Air Force Academy Keeps Majors Intact amid Faculty Cuts
Aug. 20, 2025
Twenty-five faculty members—about 5 percent—have left the U.S. Air Force Academy so far this year, including those who opted into the federal Deferred Resignation Program, retired, or were not renewed for another term. Nearly 10 percent of the academy’s 1,500 or so civilian jobs were identified for elimination in 2025,…