February 24, 2001

Feb. 24, 2001
Lt. Col. Stayce D. Harris takes command of the Air Force Reserve Command’s 729th Airlift Squadron at March ARB, Calif., becoming the first black woman to command a USAF flying squadron.

Related

Congress Passes $839 Billion Budget for Defense

Feb. 3, 2026
Congress officially passed the fiscal 2026 defense spending bill Feb. 3 after a House of Representatives vote, approving $839 billion in Pentagon funding and sending the package to President Donald Trump for his signature.

NRO Pulls Back the Veil On Cold War-Era Intelligence Satellite Program

Feb. 2, 2026
The Pentagon agency charged with building and operating U.S. spy satellites recently declassified some details about a Cold War-era surveillance program called Jumpseat—a revelation it says sheds light on the importance of satellite imaging technology and how it has advanced in the decades since. 

After 11-Month Vacancy, Air Force Has a New Vice Chief

Feb. 2, 2026
The Senate confirmed Gen. John D. Lamontagne to be Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force by voice vote late Jan. 30, along five other Air Force three-stars and a new commander for U.S. Southern Command.

Midnight Hammer Lessons: USAF Needs More Tankers, Munitions

Feb. 2, 2026
Air Force leaders hail recent strike missions like Midnight Hammer as a shining example of operational readiness, but that success also highlights the challenges ahead should USAF need to mount an extended long-range strike campaign.

Air Force Patent Holiday Offers Businesses Inventions For Free 

Jan. 30, 2026
The Air Force Research Laboratory is offering free licenses for dozens of its patents, including some for secure microchips, 3D-printable “energetic compounds” for use as propellants or explosives, and powerful magnets that are less reliant on rare earth metals. The...

Partial Government Shutdown Hits Pentagon

Jan. 30, 2026
The Pentagon and several other federal agencies suffered a lapse in appropriations Jan. 31, as a full-year fiscal 2026 spending package awaits passage in the House after a last-minute approval in the Senate. The odds are high, however, that the partial government shutdown is quickly resolved.