Daily Report

Nov. 18, 2013

Haney Takes Charge of STRATCOM, Kehler Retires

Gen. Robert Kehler relinquished the leadership of US Strategic Command to Adm. Cecil Haney during a ceremony at Offutt AFB, Neb. “I intend to work diligently with this team of professionals to ensure the effectiveness of the global operations Strategic...

Still on Hold

Deborah James’ nomination to be Air Force Secretary is still in a holding pattern. That’s because Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is delaying the confirmation process for nominees that President Obama has selected to fill senior Administration posts until the White...

Instructor Pilot Receives Top Flight Safety Award

Maj. Douglas Witmer, who is serving on an officer exchange as an instructor pilot with the Argentine air force, received the 2013 Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy, the service’s annual award recognizing outstanding airmanship. Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh presented...

Helms Nomination Withdrawn

President Obama withdrew the nomination of Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, 14th Air Force commander, to be Air Force Space Command’s next vice commander. The Nov. 7 withdrawal comes on the heels of Helms’ decision to retire; she applied for retirement...

Chief Cody Launches Digital Chat Session

CMSAF James Cody led the first “CHIEFchat” session, using new media to communicate with airmen worldwide. Cody answered questions from airmen and their families in the live studio audience during the Nov. 12 event held at Defense Media Activity headquarters...

The Fight for Combat Rescue

Hopes are dim the Air Force will award a contract for a new combat search and rescue helicopter before the end of the year, or anytime soon for that matter, Acting Air Force Secretary Eric Fanning said Monday. “It will...

Lawmakers Oppose A-10 Cut

A bipartisan, bicameral group of 33 lawmakers told Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Martin Dempsey that they would “oppose any effort” by the Air Force to divest the A-10 fleet. “It is essential that the...

Kadena Airmen Join Typhoon Haiyan Relief Efforts

Airmen from Kadena AB, Japan, began delivering aid to the Philippines as part of Operation Damayan, the US military’s humanitarian assistance and relief efforts there following the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan earlier this month. They supported the movement of...

Experimental Satellite Set for Launch

The Air Force is poised for Tuesday’s launch of the Space Test Program Satellite-3 into orbit from Wallops Island, Va. A Minotaur I rocket will carry STPSat-3 aloft from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, states a Nov. 13 release from Kirtland...

Osan Breaks Ground for New Elementary School

Officials at Osan AB, South Korea, broke ground on base for a new elementary school that is slated to open in March 2016. The design of the two-story building will be the first of its kind in South Korea, states...

New Rescue Vehicles Arrive at Nellis for Testing

The first set of Guardian Angel Air-Deployable Rescue Vehicles to enter the Air Force’s inventory last week arrived at Nellis AFB, Nev., for testing by the 88th Test and Evaluation Squadron. GAARV operational testing is scheduled to start in March...