Not Tiering Up Again

By John A. Tirpak
When sequestration hits again—as Air Combat Command chief Gen. Mike Hostage believes it will—ACC will have to deal with it differently than it did before. During the summer of 2013, some squadrons were grounded and others flew at bare-bones rates,...

How Bad Did It Get?

By John A. Tirpak
At the height of sequestration in 2013, Air Combat Command had “eight combat-ready airplanes” in the continental US “that weren’t already on rotation or preparing to go,” said ACC chief Gen. Mike Hostage. Speaking at an AFA-sponsored, Air Force event...

Defining Sixth-Generation Fighters

By John A. Tirpak
The Air Force is working on a capability to succeed the F-22, but it is still defining what it might be. Speaking during an AFA-sponsored, Air Force breakfast event in Arlington, Va., ACC chief Gen. Mike Hostage said he “told...

Hostage Says JSTARS Replacement Still Top Priority

By Otto Kreisher
Air Combat Command boss Gen. Michael Hostage lists a replacement for the E-8 JSTARS battle management aircraft among his top three or four priorities. “It’s important to me,” said Hostage on Tuesday during an AFA-sponsored, Air Force breakfast event in...

Managing the CAF Despite Post-Sequestration Paralysis

By Marc V. Schanz
Air Combat Command boss Gen. Michael Hostage repeatedly expressed frustration with the paralysis of post-sequestration force planning during an AFA-sponsored, Air Force breakfast event in Arlington, Va., on Tuesday. “Politics is not letting us make the hard decisions,” Hostage said,...

Lost in the Noise

By Otto Kreisher
Although the F-35 has the capability to jam enemy radars, the commander of Air Combat Command does not want the fifth generation fighter doing broad electronic jamming during a strike into contested air space. With its low radar signature, the...

Watching the Competition

By Marc V. Schanz
The Air Force works hard to keep tabs on the capabilities of competitors such as China, said Air Combat Command boss Gen. Michael Hostage. Speaking during an AFA-sponsored, Air Force event in Arlington, Va., Hostage said USAF is more “circumspect”...

Senate Confirms Bob McDonald as VA Secretary

By Autumn A. Arnett
The Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed the nomination of former Procter & Gamble CEO Bob McDonald to be the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs. In his July 23 confirmation hearing, members on both sides of the aisle lauded McDonald as...