Daily Report

Oct. 31, 2013

LaPlante Nominated to Lead Air Force’s Acquisition Office

President Obama has nominated William LaPlante to serve as assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, announced the White House on Oct. 30. Since May, LaPlante has been the principal deputy in the service’s acquisition office. If the Senate...

What Comes After Z?

We reported in Wednesday’s Daily Report column that the Air Force plans to recapitalize its aerial tanker fleet in three steps, labeled KC-X, KC-Y, and KC-Z. Previously, service officials have said the KC-X and KC-Y acquisition programs were meant to...

Spatial Disorientation Caused Fatal F-16 Crash

Accident investigators determined that the pilot’s spatial disorientation caused an F-16 from Aviano AB, Italy, to crash in the Adriatic Sea on Jan. 28, claiming the pilot’s life, announced US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa officials. A combination of...

C-130 Aircrew Helps Close Down FOB Salerno

Six airmen assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, plus their C-130, recently helped close down Forward Operating Base Salerno in eastern Afghanistan by flying out the last US military personnel from there, according to a...

Minot Opens Fourth New Dormitory

Officials at Minot AFB, N.D., opened the base’s fourth new dormitory with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to a base release. Dorm 214, which will be living quarters for 168 airmen, “serves as a reminder of our dedication to caring for...

HASC Launches Acquisition-Reform Initiative

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) tapped HASC Vice Chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Tex.) and Ranking Member Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) to lead a long-term effort to reform Defense Department acquisition. “We cannot afford a costly and...

Japan and Flexible Response

While the Japanese government believes that Japan has the right to engage in collective self-defense with partner nations, actually doing so would violate the county’s constitution, based on the government’s current interpretation. Resolving that inconsistency could have great effect on...