The Air Force has awarded the Bronze Star Medal to TSgt. Andrew LeBeau, an explosive ordnance disposal specialist with Air Force Reserve Command’s 944th Civil Engineer Squadron at Luke AFB, Ariz., for his actions while deployed to Afghanistan. He was an EOD team leader from May 9, 2009, to Nov. 3, 2009. His team’s work with US Special Operations Forces directly led to the capture or kill of key improvised explosive device facilitators and Taliban subcommanders. He also removed an unexploded rocket from the entrance to an Afghanistan girls’ school, following a Taliban attack. (Luke report by TSgt. Susan Stout)
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.