SSgt. Jeremy King, a member of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron at Kadena AB, Japan, is the Air Force’s top combat controller for 2009. The recently promoted sergeant earned the award after a year that saw him supporting combat operations from a remote firebase in Afghanistan and serving as the lead air traffic controller at an airfield in Indonesia after a devastating earthquake struck that nation. “To be honest, I didn’t know there was an Air Force-level award for Combat Control Airman of the Year,” said King. He added, “[T]his is a truly humbling experience. Combat control is a small community with so many outstanding warriors. To be recognized within this community is unbelievable.” King has received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Air Force Combat Action medals. (Kadena report by TSgt. Aaron Cram)
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
