April 4, 2025 Air Force Special Operations Command accepts the first missionized OA-1K Skyraider II The Skyraider II officially joins the Air Force Special Operations Command fleet with the delivery of the first missionized aircraft on April 3, 2025.
March 28, 2025 AF Week in Photos This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
March 19, 2025 Hegseth says Air, Space forces key to deterring, engaging in future conflicts Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked on the value of the Air Force and Space Force in both deterring and engaging in future military conflicts while speaking at the Department of the Air Force Summit.
March 17, 2025 Department of the Air Force releases Non-Covered Assisted Reproductive Technology Memorandum The Department of the Air Force announced effective immediately, administrative leave, travel, and transportation reimbursement for elective abortion will cease.
Feb. 21, 2025 Hegseth addresses strengthening military by cutting excess, refocusing DOD budget Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed his priorities of strengthening the military by cutting fiscal fraud, waste and abuse at DOD while also finding ways to refocus the department's budget.
Jan. 27, 2025 Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Begins 'Most Important Deployment of My Life' Secretary Pete Hegseth was sworn in as the 29th Secretary of Defense.
Oct. 11, 2024 Around the Air Force: Air Task Force Combat Support Training, First Guardian Launches into Space, Childcare Pilot Program In this week’s look around the Air Force, Air Task Forces prepare for Combat Support Training, the first USSF Guardian launches into space on a NASA mission, and the DoD creates a pilot program to cover certain childcare costs after a PCS.
Oct. 4, 2024 Around the Air Force: Defining Units of Action, SECDEF’s well-being initiatives, B-21 Raider update In this week’s look around the Air Force, the DAF further defines the evolution of wings into Units of Action, the SecDef's announces seven new well-being initiatives for military families, and an update on the Air Force’s newest bomber: the B-21 Raider.
Sept. 13, 2024 Secretary of Defense announces seven new initiatives to enhance well-being of military force and their families Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced seven initiatives to improve the quality of life for service members and their families.
April 22, 2024 Department of Defense announces winners of the 2024 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards The awards recognize installations, teams and individuals for their exceptional achievements in effective environmental management strategies that enhance installation resilience and mission readiness.
Sept. 29, 2023 DOD announces new actions to prevent suicide in the military Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin released a memo directing urgent actions to address suicide in the military community.
April 17, 2023 Four Department of the Air Force Installations win 2023 SecDEF Environmental Awards Since 1962, installations across the Department of Defense have been recognized by these awards for their accomplishments in innovative and cost-effective environmental management that support mission readiness.
Feb. 4, 2023 F-22 safely shoots down Chinese spy balloon off South Carolina coast President Joe Biden ordered the action on Wednesday, but it was delayed until the balloon was over water off the coast of South Carolina to ensure no Americans on the ground were harmed.
Jan. 12, 2023 DoD rescinds COVID-19 vaccination mandate The memoranda mandating Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve personnel be vaccinated against COVID-19 was rescinded Jan. 10.
Sept. 30, 2022 DAF adds additional financial incentives to recruit Child and Youth Program employees Effective Oct. 1, DAF Child Development Program direct-care employees will receive a 100% childcare fee waiver for their first child enrolled in installation Child Development Programs.
Sept. 23, 2022 Defense Department moving ahead on recommendations to combat sexual assault The DoD now has a framework in place to track the implementation and effectiveness of its efforts to stop sexual assault and harassment, which includes regular progress reviews through senior leadership forums.
Sept. 22, 2022 Austin pledges to 'ease the load' for service members In a memo titled "Taking Care of Our Service Members and Families," Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III outlined efforts to address the needs of married service members and their families, as well as single service members.
Aug. 10, 2022 Edwards AFB completes educational complex The Department of Defense celebrated the ribbon cutting for the Desert Junior Senior High School on Edwards Air Force Base, Aug. 9.
April 22, 2022 DoD announces 2022 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards winners Since 1962, installations across the Department of Defense have been recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in innovative and cost-effective environmental management strategies that successfully support mission readiness.
Dec. 22, 2020 Acting defense secretary visits RAF Mildenhall Miller visited the installation to engage with Airmen, speak with leadership and present the 2020 Secretary of Defense Maintenance Effectiveness Award to the 100th Maintenance Group.
Aug. 14, 2020 White House nominates Allvin to become Air Force vice chief of staff Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper announced Aug. 14, President Donald J. Trump has nominated Lt. Gen. David W. Allvin to be the next Air Force Vice Chief of Staff.
Aug. 6, 2020 Brown formally installed as 22nd Air Force Chief of Staff In remarks following the formal “Change of Responsibility” ceremony in which he took over from retiring Gen. David L. Goldfein, the 21st Chief of Staff, Brown acknowledged an array of people who influenced his life. Among them were his wife, Sharene, and his parents, as well as a list of Air Force
Aug. 3, 2020 SecDef visits B-21 facilities in Florida Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper, visited the B-21 Raider design and development headquarters at Northrop Grumman, to witness the progress being made on the nation’s most cutting edge dual-capable stealth bomber.
June 17, 2020 SecDef witnesses transformation, protection of citizens becoming Airmen at BMT during COVID-19 Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper met with Air Education and Training Command leaders to see firsthand how Basic Military Training is fighting through COVID-19 with health protection measures in place and adapting operations to current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidance.
March 20, 2020 509th MDG earns Air Force Clinic of the Year This prominent award is based on accomplishments submitted to each major command. Once selected at the MAJCOM level, award packages are then sent up to compete at the Air Force level.
March 16, 2020 Air Force committed to supporting benefits of Tenant Bill of Rights Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper and the service secretaries signed the Tenant Bill of Rights Feb. 25, empowering residents with processes to receive information, assistance, advocacy and insight into the housing maintenance work order processes.
Sept. 18, 2019 Esper emphasizes need for military to ‘adapt’ to confront new threats, resurgent ‘great power competition’ The blueprint for success, he said, is the National Defense Strategy, a comprehensive document assembled by former Defense Secretary James Mattis that reshapes the military to address new threats from near-peer competitors while also continuing to prosecute the war on terror and ensuring national
May 15, 2019 Year of Defender revitalizes security forces squadrons Security forces is the largest enlisted career field in the Air Force with approximately 38,000 defenders spanning 120 bases. In order to better care for these Airmen and ensure they have everything they need to complete their mission, 2019 was declared – Year of the Defender – by top Air Force
April 11, 2019 Senate Armed Services Committee recognizes importance of space while offering divergent views on Space Force The Senate Armed Services Committee acknowledged April 11 that maintaining U.S. superiority in space is a national imperative but expressed skepticism that creating a Space Force as a new, sixth branch of military is the best approach for achieving that goal.
Jan. 8, 2019 Harold Brown, former secretary of defense & Air Force, shaped both institutions Harold Brown, the 14th secretary of defense who also served as the nation’s 8th secretary of the Air Force, died Jan. 4 at his home in Ranch Santa Fe, California. He was 91.
Nov. 15, 2018 U.S. presents Bells of Balangiga to the Philippines Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis and Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Romualdez visited F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Nov. 14, during which the Bells of Balangiga were officially presented to the Philippine government.
April 20, 2018 Air Force takes three DOD environmental awards The Air Force took home three top honors in the 2018 Secretary of Defense environmental awards program.
Aug. 17, 2017 New Air Force Space Operations Directorate achieves operating capability The Air Force selected the senior civilian and mobilization assistant for the deputy chief of staff for Space Operations directorate, or "AF/A11," Aug. 17, 2017. Mr. Shawn Barnes will serve as the assistant deputy chief of staff for Space Operations, and Maj. Gen. Pamela Lincoln has been named as
May 18, 2017 Luke AFB environmental engineer receives SECDEF Environmental Award One of these distinguished leaders is Jeffery Schone, an environmental engineer assigned to the 56th Civil Engineering Squadron, who received the 2017 Secretary of Defense Environmental Award for his outstanding achievements throughout his career.
May 2, 2017 Air Force implements changes to joint matters, joint tour credit The definition of “joint matters” and the authorized length of joint tours, two major joint officer management laws affecting active and reserve component Air Force officers, have recently changed following publication of guidance from the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
March 3, 2017 JBLE welcomes President Trump President Donald J. Trump greeted a crowd of service members, their families and friends as he made his first official visit to Joint Base Langley-Eustis and the Tidewater military community, March 2.
Nov. 18, 2016 SecDef ensures future military readiness during JBSA visit Secretary of Defense Ash Carter traveled to Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 16, during a trip focused on ensuring the readiness of the U.S. military and the effectiveness of the training and equipment provided to today’s warfighters. While at JBSA, Carter spoke with Airmen who had just
Jan. 14, 2015 Hagel underscores nuclear mission importance at B-2 base Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel opened his final domestic trip with a stop at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, Jan. 13, home of the 509th Bomb Wing -- the world's only B-2 Spirit stealth bomber unit.
Nov. 24, 2014 Hagel: ‘I did not make this decision lightly’ Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel released his official resignation statement, Nov. 24, 2014.
Nov. 11, 2014 Secretary praises, thanks veterans, service members Every year, we set aside Veterans Day to honor all the men and women who've served our country in uniform. We celebrate veterans from generations past. We welcome a new generation of veterans home from war. And we thank our future veterans, still serving at home and abroad.
Jan. 31, 2014 Hagel ends Poland trip with U.S., Polish airmen Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spent the last afternoon of his first official visit to Poland by stopping at an air base where U.S. and Polish airmen work side by side, and later at a historic church where his great grandparents were married in 1882.
Jan. 10, 2014 Hagel visits Airmen, stresses importance of mission, gratitude Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel visited Airmen from the 90th Missile Wing here Jan. 9 to learn about the ICBM mission and the people who operate, maintain, secure and support the Minuteman III weapon system. Hagel also took time to speak to Airmen who were selected as top performers by their
Oct. 24, 2013 SecDef directs new protections for unclassified data Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recently directed that DOD organizations take additional steps to ensure unclassified controlled technical information is protected from cyber intrusions.