State of the Air Force

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III field questions from members of the Pentagon press corps at the Pentagon, May 24, 2013. During the press briefing, Donley and Welsh addressed the force structure, readiness and modernization challenges the Air Force is facing in the current fiscal environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

State of the Air Force

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III field questions from members of the Pentagon press corps at the Pentagon, May 24, 2013. During the press briefing, Donley and Welsh addressed the force structure, readiness and modernization challenges the Air Force is facing in the current fiscal environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

New under secretary of the Air Force

Mr. Timothy Beyland, (left), the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, delivers the oath of office to Mr. Eric Fanning installing him as the new Under Secretary of the Air Force at a ceremony at the Pentagon on April 29, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michael J. Pausic)

New under secretary of the Air Force

Mr. Eric Fanning was sworn in April 29, 2013, as the next under secretary of the Air Force during a Pentagon ceremony. (Courtesy image)

Sequestration

Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry Spencer (right) answers a question posed to him by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. (left), during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support. April 18, 2013, in Washington, D.C. During the hearing, Spencer said low readiness levels resulting from two decades of sustained combat operations and further hindered by sequestration will impact the Air Force's ability to adequately perform its mission. Seated at the table with Spencer are from left: U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John Campbell, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Mark Ferguson and Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. John Paxton. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Varhegyi)

Combat aviation testimony on Capitol Hill

Air Force Lt. Gen. Burton Field looks on while U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Charles Davis answers a question posed to him about combat aviation programs being budgeted for fiscal year 2014 during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee's Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., April 17, 2013. Davis is the Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. He is responsible for research and development, test, production and modernization of Air Force programs. Field is deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements and also serves as the Air Force operations deputy to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. . (U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Varhegyi)