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. Science fiction franchises such as Star Wars and Mobile Suit Gundam likely had something to do with it too. David can be reached at droza@afa.org or davidroza@protonmail.com.
Recent stories by David Roza
Space Force Invests in System for Building and Modifying Satellites—in Orbit
Building satellites is hard enough on Earth, but a group of companies just received a contract from the U.S. Space Force that could pave the way to building satellites in orbit. Announced March 20, the goal of the $1.6 million award is to demonstrate building ...
Austin Takes Action on Some Suicide Prevention Recommendations. Others Will Be Tougher
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced new steps in a multiyear plan to improve mental health and suicide prevention in the military on March 16—issuing a memo outlining 10 steps the Pentagon will take at the recommendation of an independent review committee. However, ...
Air Guardsmen Have Plenty of ‘Multi-Capable’ Skills. Now the Air Force Needs to Track Them
As the Air Force pushes forward with the concept of multi-capable Airmen, where troops perform roles outside their usual specialty, director of the Air National Guard Lt. Gen. Michael Loh says his command is particularly well-suited to respond, since most members of the Air National ...
Meet The Airmen Trained To Repair Massive Aircraft Battle Damage In The Next Big Fight
A group of about 150 Aircraft Battle Damage Repair Airmen can perform depot-level maintenance in the field and put damaged aircraft back in the fight. Some of those Airmen were recognized at the AFA Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colo., last week.
Space Force Budget Would Soar by 15 Percent in 2024
The nation’s smallest military branch would see one of the largest funding increases based on percentage under President Joe Biden’s 2024 budget request.
Want to Grow a Beard? Not in My Military, Says Colón-López. Others Aren’t So Sure.
SEAC Ramón Colón-López said the push to allow beards in the Air Force was a fashion statement that could undermine discipline in the ranks.
Air Force Faces 10 Percent Recruiting Shortfall in 2023—And Long-Term ‘Headwinds’
The Air Force Recruiting Service faces a 10 percent shortfall this year amid low unemployment and a declining interest in military service among young Americans.
Top Enlisted Service Member: We’re Competing with the PLA, Not the Chinese People
“Shoot them in the face,” Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Ramón Colón-López said at the AFA Warfare Symposium, when asked to describe in five words how to defeat the People’s Republic of China. However, Colón-López cautioned that should a ...
Accelerate Change: Switch to the Reserve in Just 1 Month?
Chief of the Air Force Reserve Lt. Gen. John Healy wants to ease the Reserve’s recruiting problem by eliminating bureaucratic hurdles in the transfer process.
Minihan: Mobility Guardian 23 Will Test Airmen in New Ways
The head of Air Mobility Command is eager to find out how his Airmen handle the combined challenges of long distances, open ocean, and integration with other services at a major exercise scheduled this summer over the Pacific Ocean. “Operation Mobility Guardian … normally just ...
AFSOC Teaches Cultural and Air Ops Skills in New Course for Multi-Capable Airmen
A new course at Hurlburt Field, Fla. will train multi-capable, multi-cultural Airmen to better operate with foreign partners overseas. The first edition of the course is focused on eight Thai-speaking Airmen.
In Message to Force, Austin Touts ‘Once-in-a-Generation’ Investments
Ahead of the release of Pentagon’s 2024 budget release in the coming weeks, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin touted “major investments” by the DOD across a broad array of portfolios, including the nuclear triad, space, and next-generation fighter aircraft—while promising “once-in-a-generation” expenditures for shipyards and munitions ...