The Air Force has awarded Bronze Star medals to three airmen with the 566th Intelligence Squadron at Buckley AFB, Colo., for their actions while deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom. During a year-long deployment, MSgt. Joseph Houlihan served as superintendent of the intelligence detachments with Multi-national Forces West and Multi-national Division Baghdad, leading joint service personnel in more than 2,500 combat missions from 16 forward operating locations. MSgt. Matthew Strube was the senior ranking member of Weapons Intelligence Team (WIT) 6 of Combined Joint Task Force Troy and completed more than 250 weapons intelligence missions that led to the capture of three high-value targets. TSgt. David Romanowsky served as the senior intel analyst for WIT 2 and received his medal for exemplary meritorious service during ground combat operations. (Buckley release)
A half-dozen pilots from one of the Air Force’s premier F-16 units, the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., have been awarded one of the service’s highest decorations for their role in Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.