The congressionally mandated National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force holds its first public hearing. Retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Dennis McCarthy is chairman of the eight- member panel, and former Air Force Undersecretary Erin Conaton is the vice chair. Lawmakers created the panel to address concerns over USAF’s force structure plans for its reserve components. Congress directed the commission to provide a report with its recommendations by Feb. 1, 2014.
Small satellites meant to improve the way the U.S. measures Earth’s magnetic field—an option to expand the military’s position, navigation, and timing enterprise—launched March 30 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif.