The two C-17s from Hickam AFB, Hawaii, flown by active and Air National Guard airmen, that evacuated 188 people from tiny Wake island left their engines running as the evacuees—active duty airmen and DOD and Thai contractors—filed on board, leaving within 60 minutes of the aircraft touching down and just in front of Category 5 Super Typhoon Ioke. The storm hit Wake dead on with 186 mph winds.
Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Pentagon, spent his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 19 pressing his civilian bona fides to lawmakers, with some pledging opposition to the waiver Austin would need to become the nation’s first Black Defense Secretary. Austin spent 40 years in the military…