DOD Releases Inaugural Military Family Suicide Statistics
AFIMSC Refines Disaster Response Plans for Future Storms
Goldfein on Meeting Bomber Mission Requirements as B-1 Readiness Drops
Hyten Confirmed as Pentagon’s No. 2 Uniformed Official
Air Force Looks to “Alpha Warrior” to Change PT Culture
__________
RADAR SWEEP
Pentagon Official in Charge of F-35 Operating Costs and Privatized Military Housing Resigns
Assistant Defense Secretary for Sustainment Robert McMahon, whose purview includes operating costs for the uber-expensive F-35 and addressing problems in privatized military housing, has submitted his resignation effective as of Nov. 22, said Defense Department spokeswoman Heather Babb. Task & Purpose
AFRL Issues New Tech Challenge, Uses Bespoke Contracts
In its new “opportunity call,” the Air Force Research Laboratory is looking to fund applied research on in-flight arming and refueling systems; vehicle tracking in commercial imagery; and personnel recovery kit delivery systems. It intends to make four to seven awards, each in the $1 million to $2 million range, according to the Sept. 26 announcement. Submissions are due Nov. 11, with funding invitations distributed by March 2020. Breaking Defense
Air Force Wants to Continue Recovery Training in Southwest
The US Air Force wants to use 179 public and private properties across the Southwest for training on recovering personnel such as downed pilots. Associated Press via US News
Pentagon Looking for AI to Interpret “Strategic Activity” Around the Globe
The Defense Department’s startup outreach office is looking for artificial intelligence tools that can keep help Pentagon officials understand trends in world events. NextGov
Defense Innovation Unit Launches New Satellite Imagery Prize Challenge
The Defense Innovation Unit announced Sept. 25 it has posted the satellite images for its second prize challenge known as xVIEW2, which focuses on using artificial intelligence to assess damage from natural disasters. Competitors vying for $150,000 in prizes have to develop computer vision algorithms to automate the process of assessing building damage after natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and wind. Space News
Are Air Defense Systems Ready to Confront Drone Swarms
The attack on Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq and Khurais oil facilities on Sept. 14 served as a reality check for countries struggling to define the level of the threat posed by drone swarms and low-altitude cruise missiles. Now, in a region where that threat is particularly acute, countries are left to reexamine existing air defense technology. Defense News
US, Bulgaria Participate in Bilateral Training Exercise Rapid Buzzard
US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and airmen assigned to the 510th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano AB, Italy, and airmen assigned to the 435th Contingency Response Squadron, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany, are participating in the bilateral training exercise, Rapid Buzzard, with the Bulgarian air force at Graf Ignatievo AB, Bulgaria. USAF release
One More Thing
Congress Votes to Issue Coin for “Teacher in Space” Christa McAuliffe
The US Mint will memorialize the first teacher who launched toward space with a new coin that will help continue her mission of science and technology education. The US House of Representatives passed the Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019 on Sept. 19, directing the Mint to produce a $1 silver coin honoring the fallen educator, who died alongside her six crewmates on board the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. Approved by the Senate in July, the bill will now go to the White House for the president to sign into law. Space.com