The majority of special-mission aircraft that the 1st Special Operations Wing temporarily relocated from Hurlburt Field, Fla., last week due to Tropical Storm Karen are now back home, according to wing spokeswoman A1C Michelle Vickers. The wing’s remaining assets are expected back by the end of the week, she told the Daily Report on Tuesday. On Oct. 3, the 1st SOW began moving some of its AC-130s, CV-22s, MC-130s, and U-28s to Cannon AFB, N.M., and Little Rock AFB, Ark., in advance of Karen’s arrival. Maintainers put the aircraft that remained at Hurlburt in protective hangars, said Vickers. Concern at the time was that Karen would make landfall on the Florida panhandle as a powerful, destructive storm. However, by Sunday, Karen had dissipated and no storm watches or warnings remained in effect.
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…