Global Stare: The Air Force is working to connect data collected by the wide-area surveillance sensor Gorgon Stare into its Distributed Common Ground System and then bring all Afghanistan-based personnel working with the sensor back to the United States, said Lt. Gen. Larry James, deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance during AFA’s Air & Space Conference, Sept. 17. Eventually the 13th Intelligence Squadron at Beale AFB, Calif., will be assigned the primary task of conducting that mission, he added. James said part of the goal is to reduce the number of “boots on the ground” in theater.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.