Enlisted Airman Becomes First to Receive Air Force Cross

Sept. 9, 1967

Sgt. Duane D. Hackney is presented with the Air Force Cross for bravery in rescuing an Air Force pilot in Vietnam. He is the first living enlisted man to receive the award.

New Target Vehicle for Missile Defense Tests Makes First Flight

Jan. 9, 2026

The Pentagon is making progress developing a new target round for test the effectiveness of U.S. missile defenses. Contractor Northrop Grumman announced the first flight of a redesigned vehicle Jan. 8.

USAF Restores Duty Identifier Patches: ‘They’re Back, Baby’

Jan. 9, 2026

With a rip of Velcro and the slap of a familiar patch, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David A. Wolfe announced the return of duty identifier patches in an 11-second Facebook video Jan. 9.

B-2 Units That Flew Midnight Hammer Win Awards from Air Force Historical Foundation

Jan. 8, 2026

The Air Force Historical Foundation has recognized two Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber wings among the winners of its 2025-2026 prestigious annual awards, selecting both for their part in Operation Midnight Hammer, the daring raid on Iran’s fortified nuclear weapons sites.

F-35 Deliveries Soared to New Record in 2025

Jan. 8, 2026

Lockheed Martin says it delivered 191 F-35 fighters in 2025—just ahead of the goal it set for itself at the beginning of the year as it works to clear a backlog of jets in storage.

Air Force, Space Force Introduce First Acquisition Portfolios in Reform Push

Jan. 8, 2026

The Department of the Air Force announced seven new mission area-focused portfolio acquisition executives for the Air Force and Space Force, some of the department's first steps to implement Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's sweeping acquisition reforms.

ULA Eyes Vulcan’s Second Space Force Launch amid Major Leadership Change

Jan. 7, 2026

United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan Centaur rocket is slated to fly its second national security mission in February—nearly six months after its first operational launch and almost a year after it was certified to fly military payloads for the Space Force.

Air Force Drops Mandatory 2-Mile Run on New PT Test, Moves Start Date Up to July

Jan. 7, 2026

Airman will start being officially scored on the new physical fitness assessment in July rather than September and will have an alternative to a two-mile run to prove their cardio fitness, the Air Force announced Jan. 6.

What to Know About the RQ-170 Drone, Venezuela, and Stealthy ISR

Jan. 7, 2026

When Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Air Force Gen. Dan Caine described the 150 aircraft used in Operation Absolute Resolve, the mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, he referenced many by name, including the F-35 and F-22 fighters and B-1 bomber. Not specified, however, were “remotely piloted drones,” among them a secretive aircraft spotted and photographed returning to Puerto…

PHOTOS: Air Force Flight Ops in Wake of Venezuela Raid

Jan. 6, 2026

The Air Force on Jan. 6 released nearly a dozen photos of F-22 and F-35 fighters returning to Puerto Rico after supporting the raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—the first official images of forces who participated in Operation Absolute Resolve.

Enlisted Airman Becomes First to Receive Air Force Cross

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