David Roza
David Roza is a senior editor at Air & Space Forces Magazine. He covered local news in Downeast Maine and FDA policy in Washington D.C. before starting as an Air Force and Space Force reporter at Task & Purpose, where he became passionate about aircraft, spacecraft, and the people who operate them. David can be reached at droza_CTR@afa.org or davidroza@protonmail.com.
Recent stories by David Roza
Air Force Reserve Pilots Short $26 Million for Flying Hours, Putting ‘Proficiency at Risk’
Air Force Reserve Command is running out of cash to give pilots the flying practice they need to stay ready for operations.
US Will Have a Tough Time Deterring All Chinese Attacks in Space, Report Says
Unclear signaling, secret technology, ambiguous policies, and a zero-sum outlook on security may make it “extremely challenging” for the U.S. to deter any and all attacks on U.S. space assets by China, according to a new study.
What’s Going On With Retirement and Separation Orders?
Airmen scheduled to retire or separate early next year may have to wait a little longer for their official orders to do so, as the Air Force is running low on cash to cover moving expenses.
EA-37 Compass Call Electronic Warfare Jet Completes First Training Mission
The Air Force’s new electronic warfare jet has flown its first training mission, a critical milestone as the service modernizes its aging fleet of jammer aircraft. An EA-37B Compass Call from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., took off for a training sortie May 2, crewed ...
Airmen Have Just Days Left To Apply For Select Retention Bonus
Airmen eligible for selective retention bonuses (SRBs) have until May 20 to apply as the Air Force reaches the end of funding provided by Congress.
Nominee for Air Force Manpower Faces Breezy Senate Hearing
President Donald Trump's nominee for assistant secretary of the Air Force manpower and reserve affairs, retired Air Force Col. Richard L. Anderson, sailed through his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee May 13.
New 85th Fighter Group Trains First Polish F-35 Pilots With More Nations to Come
A new F-35 training group graduated its first batch of two Polish pilots May 9, with more on the way from Poland, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, and other partners. The 85th Fighter Group was reactivated at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Ark. last July to ...
JetZero Pitches Blended Wing Body Tanker as ’Game-Changer’
The KC-Z4, a blended wing body tanker concept being developed by startup JetZero, could fuel larger groups of aircraft at longer range to hold more targets at risk, company officials say.
What the Supreme Court’s Transgender Ban Really Means
The Supreme Court's May 6 decision to grant the Trump administration's request to block a lower court's injunction means the Defense Department can resume separating transgender service members under a directive issued in February.
Air Force, Space Force Brace For Wave of Civilian Staff Reductions
The personnel chiefs for the Air Force and Space Force told lawmakers that plans to lay off thousands of civilian employees could present challenges to recruitment efforts and perhaps even operations, particularly for the Space Force.
Sexual Assaults in Air Force Tick Up, as Hiring Freeze Affects Prevention Workforce
The total number of reported sexual assaults in the Department of the Air Force ticked up about two percent in 2024 while still trailing the total from 2022, as Pentagon officials say a hiring freeze on federal government civilian employees limits their ability to fill ...
‘Blind Trust’: Netflix Drops Trailer for Air Force Thunderbirds Movie
An upcoming Netflix documentary promises an inside look at the Air Force’s premier aerial demonstration team. Premiering May 23, “Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds” will showcase the skill, trust, and hard work it takes to fly six F-16 fighters in tight...
Ramstein Airmen Work Together to Change ‘Lie to Fly’ Culture
The 86th Operations Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is pioneering a new program that could help improve mental health outcomes for aviators across the Air Force.
New Jersey F-16s Lend Their ‘Voice’ to Popular Flight Simulator
F-16s assigned to the New Jersey Air National Guard will live forever in the popular video game Microsoft Flight Simulator, thanks to an audio producer who records aircraft sounds to help make virtual flight as realistic as possible.
Airmen Confused and Understaffed for Elements of ACE, Report Says
The Air Force must better explain Agile Combat Employment concepts, align training standards, and address staff shortages to be ready to implement the strategy, according to a new report by the federally funded RAND Corporation.