Five airmen assigned to Eglin AFB, Fla., on Monday received Bronze Star Medals for their meritorious service in Afghanistan and Iraq during a ceremony at the base. They are Lt. Col. Christopher Holmes, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander; SMSgt. Eric West of the 96th Civil Engineer Group; TSgt. John Carroll, 96th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordinance technician; TSgt. Howard Loughran, 96th CES EOD technician; and SSgt. Lucas Dorosky, 96th CES EOD technician. It was Loughran’s second Bronze Star. A sixth airman, TSgt. Todd Kuikka, 96th CES EOD technician, was also awarded a Bronze Star, but was not present to receive it. (Eglin release by Leslie Brown) (See also Tuesday’s Northwest Florida Daily News report.)
The two prototypes for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program have started ground testing, Air Force Chief Staff Gen. David W. Allvin announced May 1, ahead of a planned first flight this summer.