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U.S. Air Force News

  • NASA space camp scholarship offered to children of military

    NASA Space Camp is a place of learning where children come together for a journey they will never forget. For many, it is a life-changing event - helping them make decisions about their educational and vocational careers. This extraordinary adventure teaches our youth about astronauts and space

  • Officials select 36 Airmen for advanced studies

    Three dozen Air Force and two sister-service officers have been selected to attend the Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies starting in summer 2012, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced Dec. 19.The 50-week program is a follow-on school for intermediate level Department of

  • NASA seeking astronaut candidates

    NASA is accepting applications for astronaut candidates via the USAJobs website, through Jan. 12, 2012, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced."Applicants who submit an application through the USAJobs site, must also do a separate application for the Air Force nomination board," said Howard

  • TRICARE data breach

    Science Applications International Corporation is mailing letters to affected military clinic and hospital patients regarding a data breach involving personally identifiable and protected health information. On Sept. 14, SAIC reported the loss of backup tapes containing electronic health care

  • F-16s to strengthen Iraqi air defense, partnership with U.S.

    During a press conference Nov. 8  the commander of the Iraqi air force said Iraq's purchase of 18 F-16C Fighting Falcons, for their future air defense, will encourage and strengthen the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Iraq. In September, through the Foreign Military Sales program, the

  • Air Force mobile app takes off

    The Air Force Recruiting Service's first smartphone app, Make-it-Fly, hit the Apple app store recently. This free app challenges users by allowing them to build and fly their own aircraft. To complete the series of nine mission objectives, users must choose from different fuselages, wings, engines

  • Air Force civilians, cadets receive HENAAC awards

    Four Air Force civilians and two cadets were recognized at the 23rd annual Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference on Oct.7 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.HENAAC is an annual conference produced by Great Minds in STEM, a non-profit organization focusing on educational awareness programs

  • AFMC officials restructure to cut overhead, make command more efficient

    Air Force officials announced an Air Force Materiel Command-wide restructure Nov. 2 that is aimed at providing greater military capabilities, improving readiness and operating effectively in the current fiscal environment.AFMC officials will reduce the number of its centers from 12 to five. This

  • Study finds no evidence of health problems from burn pits

    An Institute of Medicine study released Oct. 31 found no evidence between exposure to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan and long-term health problems.A 14-member committee from the institute, a nonprofit health research arm of the National Academy of Sciences, could neither prove nor disprove that

  • Chief of staff to select two captains for PhD program

    Two Air Force captains will begin Air Force sponsored strategic studies next fall at top tier academic institutions in pursuit of doctorate degrees, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced.The personnel center is accepting applications for the 2012 Chief of Staff of the Air Force Captains

  • Air Force medical leaders gather to discuss future healthcare improvements

    The Air Force Medical Service gathered more than 300 senior healthcare leaders at The National Conference Center Oct. 19 here to kick off its annual week-long workshop to discuss the continued transformation of military healthcare and find ways to improve the overall patient experience.Senior

  • Free AFCLC 'Intro to Culture' course offers CCAF credit

    Officials at the Air Force Culture and Language Center are now accepting applications for the fall session of the "Introduction to Culture" course. Enrollment began Oct. 6 and is limited to 750 students. Class begins Oct. 20 and continues through Jan. 24, 2012. ITC is an online, self-paced course

  • Air Force GPS program receives international award

    The Air Force Global Positioning System program was recognized Oct. 4 by officials at the International Astronautical Federation with a special award during the 62nd International Astronautical Congress in Cape Town, South Africa. The IAF, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, established

  • Air Force officials announce selections to captain

    Air Force officials selected 126 first lieutenants for promotion during the 2011B Line of the Air Force judge advocate general corps, nurse corps, medical services corps and biomedical sciences corps quarterly captain selection process.The entire list can be found on the Air Force Personnel Center

  • UK lab awards highest honor to Wright-Patt scientist

     An Airman from the 711th Human Performance Wing here received the Special Commendation Medal from the United Kingdom's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory on Sept. 14.The award is one of the highest honors bestowed upon Ministry of Defence researchers and this was the first time it was

  • Airmen recognized with Air Force Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards

    Five teams from across the service received Air Force Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 20.Gen. Norton Schwartz presented the awards, and lauded three teams' efforts with Air Force Best Practice

  • Ali Base Airmen help U.S. forces transit Iraq

    Aerial porters and Airmen from the 407th Air Expeditionary Group's passenger terminal at Ali Base are preparing for an increase in passengers and cargo during the final months of Operation New Dawn.As the main aerial hub in southern Iraq, the terminal has processed approximately 5,000 passengers and

  • Obama proposes TRICARE changes

    Military retirees would pay an annual fee for TRICARE-for-Life health insurance and TRICARE pharmacy co-payments would be restructured under the deficit reduction plan President Barack Obama released Sept. 19."If we're going to meet our responsibilities, we have to do it together," Obama said during

  • South Pole airdrop delivers critical medical supplies in total darkness

    Airmen with the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here airdropped urgently needed medical supplies Sept. 1 at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica. The supplies will augment a South Pole medical team's treatment of an ailing civilian wintering there with the U.S. Antarctic

  • Operation Deep Freeze 2011-2012 begins

    Late winter flights, known as WINFLY, for Operation Deep Freeze 2011-2012 began August 20.Deep Freeze is a joint service, interagency activity that supports the National Science Foundation, which manages the U.S. Antarctic Program.Lt. Gen. Stanley T. Kresge, the commander of 13th Air Force, is

  • Reserve pilot spearheads Air Force's efforts to go green

    A historic agreement, introduced by a Reserve pilot from the 317th Airlift Squadron, between the Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration establishes procedures for pilots called optimized profile descent, which will reduce noise, fuel costs and emissions effective Aug

  • Airman inducted into Space Camp Hall of Fame

    An Air Force officer recently became the first U.S. Air Force space and missile operator inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame.Lt. Col. William Burke Hare III, the chief of operations for the Flight Test Execution Directorate at the Missile Defense Agency at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., was selected

  • Caring for People Survey results provide insight

    More than 100,000 total force Airmen voiced their opinions in the online Caring for People survey conducted from Dec. 1, 2010 to Jan. 3, 2011. After experts performed a comprehensive analysis, officials have released results to force support leadership. The survey allowed active duty, Guard and

  • DOD schools engage students with technology

    When children walk into a Defense Department school this year, they may be handed a laptop or electronic reader, or perhaps they'll be asked to build a robot or try out a simulator on the school lawn. Technology has long since changed the nation; it's now time to use these advances to transform its

  • Recent grad's astro feats regarded as research crown 'joule'

    Look out, Richard Dean Anderson. There's a new MacGyver in town.His name is 2nd Lt. Michael Trubilla, and a prestigious award is in the 2011 Air Force Academy grad's very near future: Trubilla is scheduled to receive the Air Force Science and Technology Cadet Research Award Aug. 25 at

  • Officials conduct study of aircraft oxygen generation systems

    Air Force officials continue to conduct an Aircraft Oxygen Generation study, with members of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board taking the leading role.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley directed the quick look study in the wake of recent F-22 Raptor incidents.Officials seek to identify

  • McKinley: America must preserve Tuskegee Airmen's legacy

    As the accomplishments of the World War II-era Tuskegee Airmen fade into U.S. history, a grateful nation must work to keep their legacy alive, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said at the 40th annual Tuskegee Airmen convention."The reality of human behavior is that the further in time we get

  • Senior leaders talk big picture with SMART scholars

    Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation program scholars have unique opportunities to leave a lasting legacy in the U.S. defense community, Air Force senior leaders said during the SMART scholar summer orientation, which took place July 11-14 in Washington, D.C.Nearly 300 SMART program

  • Program helps disabled vets become entrepreneurs

    Retired Army 1st Sgt. Renee Floyd wasn't about to let a disability stop her from realizing her dream of having her own business.Applying 21 years of experience as an Army mechanic, she launched BRF Mobile Lube Service in Phenix City, Ala., in 2009 and began traveling to people's homes and businesses

  • McChord Airmen recognized for historic Antarctic mission

    The C-17 Globemaster III aircrew members of "Ice 68" from the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings here were recognized by Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., the commander of Air Mobility Command, July 29 for their part in evacuating an ailing government contractor from McMurdo Station, Antarctica, June

  • Officials say Joint Strike Fighter program is on track

    The Joint Strike Fighter Program Office deputy director expressed confidence in the progress of the JSF program at an Air Force Association breakfast program here July 27.The upgrades and acquisitions, particularly the completion of the new Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., training facility, helps to

  • Air Force surgeon general lays out future of aeromedical evacuation

    The Air Force surgeon general addressed hundreds of medical professionals from around the world at the International Aeromedical Evacuation/En Route Care Conference at Joint Base Lewis-McChord recently.Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles Green was the keynote speaker on the second day of the first U.S.-led

  • AFA aerospace award nominees announced

    Air Force officials selected the following individuals and units as nominees to compete for the Air Force Association Aerospace Awards.The specific category and respective nominees are:Theodore Von Karman Award -- For the most outstanding contribution to national defense in the field of science and

  • Cadets study art of cyber warfare

    Rising sophomores at the Air Force Academy might compile a "things I did this summer" list that looks a little something like this:Deployment exercise, check. Piloted an airplane, check. Trained by the Air Force to be computer hacker, check.That last one is not a joke. Thanks to a newly introduced

  • Shinseki: VA task force improves care of women vets

    The newly formed VA Task Force on Women Veterans will go a long way in addressing key benefits gaps to female veterans, according to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. While support for women veterans has improved, "it has not been enough," Shinseki said during the 2011

  • Medical education, commissioning programs available

    Airmen have the opportunity to apply for Biomedical Sciences Corps training and commissioning programs for fiscal 2012, Air Force officials announced.Applicants interested in the following programs should be U.S. citizens, meet the minimum commissioning age requirements, meet fitness standards and

  • Officials name productivity award winners

    Air Force selected four winners for the Air Force's productivity and excellence awards recently. The awards recognize individuals or groups that provide resource-saving improvements to the Air Force. The Air Force Productivity Excellence Award recognizes individuals and small groups of military and

  • Air Force chief scientist lauds AMC as a leader in energy initiatives

    The Air Force's chief scientist, Dr. Mark T. Maybury, visited Air Mobility Command here June 27 to 29 and lauded AMC's initiatives as he discussed the importance of energy efficiency. Maybury's visit included serving as the keynote speaker for the AMC "Future Aircraft Fuel Efficiency Industry Days"

  • Company grade officer PME undergoes transformation

    Air Force senior leaders recently approved a plan to transform professional military education for company grade officers. The two existing developmental education venues for lieutenants and captains will soon merge into a single in-residence opportunity for CGOs.The air and space basic course at

  • Air Force officials boost personnel support to warfighter

    The Air Force Personnel Center is partnering with Headquarters, Air Force Manpower, Personnel and Services and U.S. Air Forces Central to provide additional personnel support capabilities for deployed Airmen in AFCENT's area of responsibility.Vince Fonner, AFPC's air and space expeditionary force

  • Airmen successfully medevac Antarctic worker

    Using night vision equipment and navigating around volcanic ash hazards, a C-17 Globemaster III and crew from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., alongside aeromedical evacuation and critical care air transport team Airmen, successfully evacuated an ailing Antarctic government contractor June 30. The

  • Food transformation test locations begin campus dining concept

    Airmen at the six Air Force Food Transformation Initiative pilot installations will experience more variety for their meal choices when the program expands to a campus-style dining concept this summer.The initiative, known as FTI, is a pilot program launched in October 2010 with a goal to better

  • Gates ends historic term as defense secretary

    Robert M. Gates is the only man to thank two presidents for the privilege of serving as secretary of defense.At the Armed Forces Farewell Tribute June 30 on the Pentagon's parade field, Secretary Gates thanked President George W. Bush for nominating him for the job in 2006, and President Barack

  • Nominations open for Flemming awards

    Air Force officials are accepting nominations for the 63rd Annual Arthur S. Flemming Awards.The Flemming awards recognize outstanding federal employees who made significant and extraordinary contributions to the federal government.The three award categories are: managerial or legal achievement;

  • Top Pentagon doctor lauds overseas labs

    The Defense Department's overseas medical research laboratories will play a key role in ensuring the readiness of deployed U.S. military forces well into the future, while also contributing to global health and U.S. partnership building around the world, the Pentagon's senior health affairs adviser

  • Air Force doctor receives France's highest decoration

    An Air Force doctor whose medical expertise and French language skills were credited with helping save 14 U.S. Sailors' lives after the terrorist attack on the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000 received France's highest decoration at the French Embassy in Washington June 21.Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Byron L. Hepburn,

  • Intrepid Center marks first anniversary

    A year after its ribbon-cutting ceremony, the National Intrepid Center of Excellence is making a difference in the lives of warfighters suffering traumatic brain injuries and psychological disorders, said Dr. James Kelly, the center's director.The facility, Dr. Kelly said, also is expanding the

  • SMART scholars visit D.C. to learn about their new jobs

    Students ranging from undergraduates to PhD candidates will visit Joint Base Andrews, Md., in June, to learn more about their future with the Department of Defense.The students, as Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation program scholars, represent a $50 million investment in the DOD

  • Donley congratulates grads, marks strategy school's 20th anniversary

    The graduation of the 20th class of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies June 15 also marked the 20th anniversary of the school's founding, a fact highlighted in the commencement address by Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley.Secretary Donley said the ceremony honored not only this

  • Panetta vows to put national security, troops first

    Leon E. Panetta told the Senate Armed Services Committee June 9 that if he's confirmed as the next defense secretary, his first and foremost mission will be to protect the U.S. and ensure it has the "best-trained, the best-equipped and the strongest military in the world" to provide that defense.Mr.

  • Air Force civilian named IMFA Gold Plate winner

    An Air Force civilian was named the 2011 International Foodservice Manufacturers Association's Gold Plate winner here May 23.George Miller, the Air Force Services Agency food and beverage operations chief, is the first military member to receive the 56-year-old award that annually recognizes the

  • Historians write their own chapter with Air Force awards

    Air Force officials recently named the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency history office the recipient of the 2010 Brig. Gen. Brian S. Gunderson Award for overall history program management excellence and the Air Force Heritage Award for its heritage center and

  • Former Air Force general sworn in as VA undersecretary for benefits

    Retired Brig. Gen. Allison A. Hickey, a 27-year veteran of the Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve and a graduate of the first U.S. Air Force Academy class to include women, has been sworn in as the Department of Veterans Affairs' undersecretary for benefits."General Hickey is a

  • Officials announce Flemming Award winners

    Air Force officials selected the winners of the 62nd Annual Arthur S. Flemming Award.Dr. Timothy Bunning and Maj. Gabriel Hiley of the Air Force Materiel Command were named the winners in the basic science and managerial or legal achievement categories.The Flemming award annually recognizes

  • Air Force doctor to appear on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'

    Air Force Maj. (Dr.) Van Adamson never imagined he would appear on a national syndicated TV talk show, standing next to Hollywood's biggest celebrities as a result of a college scholarship he received 13 years ago. In her second-to-last episode on Tuesday, May 24, popular day-time talk show host

  • National Guard supports final Endeavour flight

    Air National Guard members from Illinois, New York and Virginia were on hand for the final launch of NASA's space shuttle Endeavour here May 16. The Guard members provided front-line medical and emergency rescue support in the event of an incident.Col. Joe Maslar, the chief of aerospace medicine for

  • Cadets win Boeing design challenge

    A year of hard work paid off for team of cadets recently, when they won the Boeing CrewSystem 2035 challenge. CrewSystem 2035 was a year-long design competition sponsored by Boeing. Teams from the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy were tasked to design the

  • Lynn: Cyberspace strategy to build coalition of nations

    White House officials released an international cyberstrategy here May 16 that will help to build a "coalition of nations (with a) mutual interest in securing cyberspace," Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.The event to launch the U.S. International Strategy for Cyberspace also

  • Two Air Force officers inducted into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame

    Two Air Force officers who served as astronauts with NASA were inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., May 14.Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, the 14th Air Force commander, and retired Col. Karol Bobko were inducted in a ceremony at KSC a little less than an hour after an

  • National Guard leaders talk fiscal constraints, cost-effective solutions

    As part of the total force, the National Guard has successfully transformed into an operational force, the top National Guard leader said here May 11.This transformation would be impossible without the investments made in the Guard and Reserve, said Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief of the

  • Marines begin reintegration through Air Force Deployment Transition Center

    More than 100 Marines arrived by air here April 27 for a brief stay at the Air Force Deployment Transition Center.On their way home from Helmand Province in Afghanistan, the Marines of the 1st Explosives Ordnance Disposal Company, from Camp Pendleton, Calif., are the first members from another

  • Lynn: U.S. must preserve its defense industrial base

    Competition, a global defense market and targeted research and development spending will be critical in preserving the nation's defense industrial base during the slowdown in Pentagon spending, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here May 11.In keynote remarks at the Intrepid Sea, Air

  • AFIT education paves way to space

    How far can a higher education take you? About 220 nautical miles, straight up. That's at least true for retired Col. Steve Lindsey, an astronaut with NASA and graduate of the Air Force Institute of Technology.Colonel Lindsey's latest space flight, aboard the final mission of the space shuttle

  • The Million Veteran Program: VA's genomics game-changer launches nationwide

    An unprecedented Veterans Affairs research program that promises to advance the sophisticated science of genomics goes national May 5, according to the VA's top official. "It is my honor," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, "to join with so many fellow veterans in keeping VA at the

  • Senior Air Force leaders, scholars discuss national security challenges

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and several other senior Air Force leaders participated in the third annual National Security Scholars Conference at the University of Southern California campus here April 26. The conference provided an opportunity for foreign policy and international

  • Food transformation continues to see positive results

    The Air Force Food Transformation Initiative was launched Oct. 1, 2010, at six installations, with a goal of better serving the dining needs of today's Airmen. Air Force officials said they are pleased with the pilot program's initial results, which are aligned with the Department of Defense's

  • First lady aims to improve military families' lives

    First lady Michelle Obama stood behind a podium in the White House's East Room, her husband close at hand, as she addressed an audience of high-ranking military and government officials.Although it was a high-powered crowd, the first lady wasn't there for the officials or for the star-studded brass.

  • NASA specialists to descend on Offutt

    More than 20 NASA flight crew, ground crew and technicians are scheduled to arrive here late this month as the base's newest, if only temporary, members. The team will bring a NASA ER-2 to participate in the Mid-latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment over Oklahoma. This U-2-based platform

  • Blog features preparations for launch of Endeavour

    Visit DOD's Armed with Science blog to keep tabs as members of the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., showcase preparations and support for the NASA Endeavour launch scheduled for April 29. People in both the 45th Weather Squadron and 1st Range Operations Squadron are sharing blog

  • First lady, Dr. Biden to launch family-support initiative

    First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will launch a national initiative tomorrow that will call on all sectors of society to support and honor America's service members and their families.The initiative is intended to educate, challenge and spark action

  • Scott AFB to become 'one stop C-21 shop'

    The 458th Airlift Squadron here will become the Air Force's sole C-21 formal training unit within the next four months. The squadron will regain the C-21 training mission from the 45th Airlift Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.The 45th AS will dissolve as a unit underneath Air Education &

  • Cadets conduct tribal engagement exercise

    Rolling into a simulated Afghan village April 2 at Fort Carson, Colo., Air Force Academy cadets arrived by Humvee to accomplish their mission of engaging the local population. Cadets enrolled in the Behavioral Sciences 460, Sociology of Violence and War class spent the first part of the semester

  • Policy aims to better identify, treat concussions

    A memorandum that took effect throughout the Defense Department in June is expected to have a major impact on efforts to identify and treat traumatic brain injuries in the combat theater faster and more systematically, medical officials reported at the recent Armed Forces Public Health Conference in

  • Classes aim to spark interest in science, technology

    From robotics engineering to gaming technology, Defense Department school officials are hoping their new, cutting-edge courses will spark a lifelong passion for science and technology in their students.Under a new science, technology, engineering and math initiative, Department of Defense Education

  • Air Force officials outline efficiencies processes

    In compliance with Department of Defense efficiency guidance, Air Force officials confirmed plans here March 29 to implement fiscal 2012 budget proposals that shift dollars and people from overhead and support functions to modernization and warfighting areas.During testimony to members of the

  • Budget slows defense growth, comptroller says

    Cost savings reflected in the fiscal 2012 Defense Department budget do not represent a cut from current funding levels, but rather a slower rate of growth than has been seen in recent years, the Pentagon's comptroller and chief financial officer told a Senate committee here March 29.Defense

  • Training for repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell ongoing for Airmen

    Air Force officials began training Airmen March 1 in anticipation of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell with a goal of having all Airmen trained on or about June 30.Commanders throughout the Air Force will schedule commander's calls or other such events to ensure face-to-face training is available

  • Forces accomplish no-fly zone mission, Gates says

    U.S. and coalition forces have accomplished the no-fly zone aspect of the United Nations mission in Libya, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a television interview aired March 28.Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" and discussed what

  • AFCESA wins SAME's 2010 Public Agency Award

    The Society of American Military Engineers has recognized the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency and AFCESA's Master Sgt. Edward Quinn, for their outstanding service and contributions to the Society and the community. A member of the SAME Panama City Post since December 2002 and an integral

  • Operating room makes medical developments

    The operating room at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here rivals operating rooms found in the U.S., officials said.The CJTH is a place where advancements are made in medicine every day, said Tech. Sgt. Robert Wick, a CJTH operating room orthopedic technician."We are learning new methods, such as

  • Clinical trials seek to improve warriors' burn care

    New hope is on the horizon for wounded warriors suffering debilitating burns as officials from the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine and their partners at medical research centers launch three promising clinical trials.Burns are among the most painful and debilitating battlefield

  • Academy aero lab researchers harness energy from ocean waves

    Air Force Academy researchers have harnessed 99 percent of the energy in a simulated ocean wave and are preparing to take their emerging technology to the next level.The energy research is part of a National Science Foundation-funded research project to create the world's first free-floating, fully

  • Air Force pioneer speaks at women's conference

    An Air Force pioneer, who is now serving as the top-ranked woman in the Air Force, shared lessons learned during her 34-year career March 16 with more than 170 Airmen at the Joint Women's Leadership Symposium here.The two-day symposium allowed women from each service branch to speak with their

  • Air Force officials announce officer selection boards results

    Air Force officials announced today their selection of 516 lieutenant colonels, 52 majors and 109 captains for promotion.The 2010C line of the Air Force colonel and biomedical sciences corps lieutenant colonel and major (biomedical sciences corps) central selection boards considered 4,149 lieutenant

  • Langley doctor receives 2011 National Public Service Award

    Col. (Dr.) Joyce Adkins, 633rd Medical Operations Squadron commander, received the 2011 National Public Service Award March 14 at the American Society for Public Administration Banquet in Baltimore."I am deeply honored," Colonel Adkins said. "The opportunity to serve and support the men and women

  • Air Force official announces acquisition award winners

    Air Force Service Acquisition Executive David Van Buren announced the winners of the 2010 Acquisition Leadership and Transformation Awards March 9 at the Acquisition Leadership Forum here. The awards recognize Air Force individuals and organizations that have exhibited outstanding performance in

  • Officials announce reduction-in-force eligibility criteria

    Air Force officials announced they will convene a quality-based reduction-in-force board Sept. 19 for mid-grade officers as part of their measures to reduce the number of Airmen to meet the service's congressionally authorized military end-strength levels.Officials said retaining the highest quality

  • Panel recommends ways to improve military diversity

    A commission created to improve diversity among military leaders has issued 20 recommendations its members say will make the military better reflect the composition of the United States in its ranks.The Military Leadership Diversity Commission, created as part of the 2009 National Defense

  • Officials announce selections to captain

    Air Force officials selected 276 first lieutenants for promotion during the 2010D Line of the Air Force, Chaplain Corps, Judge Advocate General Corps, Nurse Corps, Medical Services Corps and Biomedical Sciences Corps quarterly captain selection process.The entire list can be found on the Air Force

  • Gates urges new Air Force leaders to think creatively

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urged Air Force Academy cadets here March 4  to have the courage to speak up as they move forward as the next generation of military leaders."As officers, you will need to show great flexibility, agility, resourcefulness and imagination," Secretary Gates said.

  • Air Force conservation programs score widespread victories

    The Air Force is trustee to more than eight million acres of land, water and air assets, and is home to more than 70 threatened and endangered species. Stewardship of these resources, in conjunction with sustainment of critical military mission activities, is a key priority for conservation programs

  • Air Force mentor-protégé team wins Nunn-Perry award for cyber applications

    A mentor-protégé team earned the Nunn-Perry award March 2 for achievements in cyber applications for the Air Force, officials from the service's office of small business said here March 4. Ball Aerospace, Colorado Engineering, Inc. and Florida International University were recognized at the annual

  • Some prior service officers eligible to retire early

    Air Force officials announced plans recently to allow some prior service officers the opportunity to retire earlier than expected.As a result of the Fiscal 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, eligible officers with prior enlisted service who have completed 20 years of total active federal

  • Airmen harness radiation to search vehicles

    With a little bit of training and the power of gamma-rays, 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Airmen are developing their vehicle-search skills using the relocatable Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System.Eight Airmen were hand-selected to train on the VACIS, a gamma-ray imaging system made by Science

  • Space weather team readies for upcoming solar max

    Solar max may sound like the name of a super hero, but it's certainly no comic book or 3-D movie.Solar max is actually the name for the sun's most active period in the solar cycle, consistently producing solar emissions, solar flares and sun spots.For a little background on the sun's activities, the

  • McChord Airmen survive New Zealand earthquake unscathed

    About 35 McChord Airmen, 15 of them from the Air Force Reserve Command's 446th Airlift Wing, are in Christchurch, New Zealand, where a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Feb. 22. The remaining McChord Airmen in Christchurch belong to the active-duty 62nd Airlift Wing here.Based in Christchurch with their

  • Three Academy graduates to fly STS-133 shuttle mission

    Three Air Force Academy graduates are leading Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-133 mission, which is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., Feb. 24. Retired Col. Steven Lindsey, Class of 1982, is mission commander, while 1987 graduate Col. Eric Boe is the pilot and

  • Agency chief outlines threat reduction strategy

    Defense Threat Reduction Agency people are at work around the clock to protect American forces and citizens from nuclear, chemical and biological threats, the agency's director said Feb. 23.Speaking to the Defense Writers Group, Kenneth A. Myers III, who also is director of the U.S. Strategic