Three Bronze Stars

Oct. 21, 2008

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

The Air Force has awarded Bronze Star medals to four airmen for their actions supporting the war on terror. MSgt. Darrin Goetchius, now a maintenance supervisor at Nellis AFB, Nev., served as a combat aviation advisor, training Iraqi forces on Mi-17, UH-1P, and Bell JetRanger helicopters. TSgt. Michael McKenna and SSgt. Kevin Krooner, both Tactical Air Control Party airmen with the 8th Air Support Operations Squadron at Aviano AB, Italy, received Bronze Stars for their service with the US Army in Afghanistan. (Nellis report by 2nd Lt. Jen Richard; McKenna photo release; Krooner photo release)

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Wilsbach Wants Air Force Leaders to Get Back in the Cockpit

Inside the Air Force Plan to Start Its Own Experimental One-Way Attack Drone Unit

Air Force Shutting Down AI Chatbot NIPRGPT

Air Force Shakes Up Acquisition Leadership

Related

USAF Adds to SOUTHCOM Buildup, Deploying F-35s to Puerto Rico

Dec. 24, 2025
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

US Bets on On-Orbit Satellite Servicing with 4 Missions in 2026

Dec. 24, 2025
Four satellite missions will launch in the coming year to demonstrate on-orbit refueling, servicing, and repair capabilities to extend the lives of military satellites. Funded by different Department of Defense entities, each will also entail commercial efforts. 

PHOTOS: Remembering 2025 in the Air Force and Space Force

Dec. 24, 2025
As 2025 draws to a close, Air & Space Forces Magazine selected several dozen of the best photos capturing exploration, activities, achievements, challenges, salutes, history, and milestones for Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Check them out below, and Happy Holidays!

Wilsbach Wants Air Force Leaders to Get Back in the Cockpit

Dec. 23, 2025
Three weeks after being sworn in as the new Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach climbed into the cockpit of an F-22 fighter on Nov. 24 and prepared to take off from Langley Air Force Base, Va. Now he wants the rest of the Air Force’s top leaders to likewise…

White House Order Underlines Space Force’s Counterspace Mission

Dec. 22, 2025
A new White House new executive order, “Ensuring American Space Superiority,” emphasizes space security as a high priority for President Donald Trump and underlines the Space Force’s role in not only defending U.S. assets, but also in the attack mission.

Air Force Shutting Down AI Chatbot NIPRGPT

Dec. 22, 2025
NIPRGPT, the Air Force’s generative artificial intelligence chatbot, will shut down Dec. 31—making way for the Pentagon’s new GenAI.mil system.

Air Force Designates New Northrop CCA as YFQ-48A

Dec. 22, 2025
The Air Force has given Northrop Grumman’s new Project Talon aircraft the official designation of YFQ-48A, the service announced Dec. 22. That makes Northrop's potential competitor for USAF's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program the third CCA to be designated an uncrewed fighter aircraft.