TSgt. Luis Garcia, a pararescueman assigned to the 342nd Training Squadron at Lackland AFB, Tex., received the Bronze Star Medal with Valor for his heroic actions in Afghanistan. On July 12, 2010, Garcia saved the lives of three US soldiers injured by improved explosive devices by helping to evacuate them during operations against enemy forces in Arghandab province, Afghanistan. “Those of us who look at his deed, appreciated what he did because we could face the same thing. He’s not only a hero for all of us, but he’s also a mentor . . . and for that, all of us owe him a tremendous thanks,” said Brig. Gen. Timothy Zadalis, Air Education and Training Command’s director of intelligence, operations, and nuclear integration, who presented Garcia with the medal during the Dec. 2 ceremony at Lackland, a part of Joint Base San Antonio. Garcia said, “I don’t look at [my deed] as heroic or anything like that. I just think of it as this guy needs to get out and I’m the only one that can do that for him at this time—me and my team.” (Randolph report by SSgt. Clinton Atkins)
The Air Force will look to the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in a closed solicitation that will create the Air Force's first university-affiliated research center (UARC), Air Force leaders said. The center will study tactical autonomy. The DAF will select the center's location from one of 11…