Chris Gordon
Chris Gordon is the Pentagon Editor at Air & Space Forces Magazine. He has broad journalism and communications experience, and developed a keen interest in defense policy and aerospace during a year on Capitol Hill where he worked with the Senate Armed Services Committee. As a reporter, he has covered everything from national security to hockey for a variety of publications, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Chris can be contacted at cgordon@afa.org.
Recent stories by Chris Gordon
Q&A: Outgoing AFCENT Boss Grynkewich on the Future of the Middle East
As commander of Air Forces Central, Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich has been at the heart of almost all U.S. military action in the Middle East, from overseeing airstrikes against Iranian proxy groups to protecting troops as America’s air defense commander for the region. Just before ...
Air Force Unveils First Picks For New ‘Quick Start’ Funding Stream
Resilient position, navigation, and timing capability and command, control and communications (C3) battle management for moving target indication will be funded with new authority circumventing the traditional lengthy budget process, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall told Congress April 16.
Promising ‘Accountability,’ Allvin Releases Update to Airmen on ‘Follow Through’ Efforts
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin began his tenure as chief pressing Airmen to “follow through” on changes needed to respond to China’s growing military might and the changing nature of warfare. On April 15, Allvin offered his first self-assessment to Airmen ...
USAF Fighters Shoot Down Iranian Drones in Defense of Israel
.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons shot down dozens of Iranian drones as they were heading toward targets in Israel on April 13, a U.S. official told Air & Space Forces Magazine. On April 14, U.S. officials singled out the role ...
National Guard Chief Makes Case for Space Guard: ‘Would Work Exactly Like It is Right Now’
National Guard officials and state governors are arguing against removing space missions from the Guard, challenging a key element of the Department of the Air Force’s plan on how to staff its space missions.
Russian Air Force Has Only Lost 10 Percent of Fleet in Ukraine, US Officials Say
The Russian air force has lost just one-tenth of its fleet while many of its military capabilities remain largely unaffected after more than two years of war in Ukraine, the top U.S. commander in Europe told Congress on April 10. “Russia’s strategic forces, long-range aviation, cyber ...
At a Historic Low, Air Force Fleet Size Will Keep Shrinking, Top Planner Says
The Air Force fleet will keep shrinking, the service’s senior planner said April 9. In its fiscal 2025 budget, the Air Force plans to reduce its fleet below 5,000 aircraft for the first time in its history as an independent service, divesting 250 aircraft and ...
Allvin, Kendall Tour Pacific Islands to See Progress on ACE
Top Air Force officials including Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David W. Allvin are on a weeklong tour of the Pacific, including visits to key bases the U.S. hopes to expand to be better ...
Airdrops to Gaza: The Art and Science of One of the Largest Aid Missions Since the Berlin Airlift
After three hours in the air, the cargo door of the C-17 slowly opened, and boxes of MREs, Army parachutes attached, tumbled out, then began to drift toward the coast. In the past several weeks, the U.S. Air Force and its partners have dropped hundreds of ...
AFCENT Boss: New Deployment Model May Require ‘More Sustained’ Key Positions
The sweeping changes the Air Force is proposing as part of its re-optimization initiative are intended to strengthen the Pentagon’s ability to deal with China’s growing military might. But they have important implications for the American military posture in the Middle East as well, the top ...
Congress to USAF: Not So Fast on Your Reorg Plans
The Department of the Air Force’s plans to “reoptimize for great power competition” have gotten a skeptical reception in Congress, as lawmakers are asking for more information before any changes go into effect and asking for an audit of the decision-making process.
INSIDE THE CAOC
The CAOC is the Air Force nerve center in the Middle East, responsible for planning and executing air operations across the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations.
‘Flying IEDs’: Combatant Commanders Tell Congress Small Drones Are a Big Problem
Russia is producing more than 100 Iranian-designed drones a week for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, a top U.S. military commander told Congress, providing a fresh example of how small drones are changing modern warfare across the globe.
Indo-Pacific Command Wants to Triple the Air Force’s Buy of Joint Strike Missiles
America’s Pacific forces want more missiles—and a lot of them—according to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s wish list for fiscal 2025. A standout of INDOPACOM’s unfunded priorities list—items not contained in the budget—is the Joint Strike Missile (JSM), an advanced standoff munition being developed for the Air ...
Ukraine’s Survival ‘In Danger’ if West Fails to Help, Austin Says
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a grave warning March 19 of Ukraine’s chances in its war with Russia if the U.S. does not continue to provide military assistance. “Today, Ukraine's survival is in danger,” Austin told reporters. Austin's remarks came at a ...