The Air Force Academy’s enlisted corps inducted Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould into the Order of the Sword. “I can’t thank you enough,” said Gould, superintendent since June 2009, to the academy’s enlisted force during the March 19 induction ceremony on campus. He added, “Everything we do here at the Air Force Academy to develop our cadets into leaders to go out and lead our country happens because of you. We simply could not do our mission without the work you do.” Inducting a senior leader into the Order of the Sword is the highest recognition enlisted airmen can bestow on a leader, said CMSgt. Todd Salzman, the academy’s command chief. (Colorado Springs report by Gino Mattorano)
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.