An investigation was ongoing into the shooting death Sunday night of Brig. Gen. Thomas Tinsley, the commander of the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, at his home on base, according to a July 28 Air Force release. An Associated Press report Monday afternoon indicated that USAF officials did not believe foul play was a factor. Elmendorf medics declared Tinsley dead at his home at 10:30 p.m. on July 27. He has served as commander of the wing since May 2007.
As the threat of Iranian-made drones grew, the Air Force rushed last year to equip F-15E Strike Eagles in the Middle East with a cheap, cost-effective way of defeating them. The service fielded the new capability in roughly a week.
