Officials with NORAD and US Northern Command on May 18 commemorated a new 9/11 memorial at the entrance of the commands’ headquarters building at Peterson AFB, Colo. The memorial features a steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center that was donated by the National Homeland Defense Foundation. The memorial is a symbol of the tragic loss on 9/11 and the need to remain vigilant to protect US freedoms, said Gen. Gene Renuart, who still led NORAD and NORTHCOM on that day, but relinquished those positions on the next day under a scheduled change of command. “But as you can see,” he continued, “it also points to the heavens. It’s a symbol of anticipation, of enthusiasm, of commitment, of hope for the nation and for the future.” Navy Adm. James Winnefeld replaced Renuart, who officially retires July 1. (Peterson report by SSgt. Thomas Doscher)
Numbers Game Squeezes USAF Fighter Force
Dec. 15, 2025
Congress set the legal floor for how many primary mission aircraft the Air Force had to have in its fighter force in 2018, requiring at least 1,145 fighters through Oct. 1, 2026. In each of the past past two legislative cycles, lawmakers agreed to reduce the number. But when the House passed…
