SSgt. Travis Jordan, a combat control journeyman with the 320th Special Tactics Squadron at Kadena AB, Japan, is one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2015. Jordan deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom where he served as the primary joint terminal attack controller attached to a Special Forces team. He controlled 62 aircraft on 19 combat missions and directed six air strikes during multiple armed skirmishes. His actions directly contributed to the elimination of two Taliban commanders and rescued four teammates by controlling their medical evacuation. As a quick-reaction force member, he responded to secure a key security checkpoint, preventing an overrun and safeguarding the base. As the sole JTAC on a 200-man, two-day mission, he directed 16 aircraft while under fire. Finally, Jordan participated in an Afghan-American culture exchange, designed to cultivate rapport, where he dined and shared experiences with partner units, ultimately strengthening regional stability. Air Force Magazine is shining the spotlight on each OAY in the days leading up to AFA’s Air & Space Conference, which starts Sept. 14 in National Harbor, Md. Also featured were: SrA. Allen Cherry, SrA. Meaghan Holley, SrA. Mason Meherg, SSgt. Kresston Davis, SSgt. Lindsey Fuentes, and SSgt. Kurtis Harrison.
The first flight of the secretive B-21 bomber has slipped to mid-2022, but the program is moving along well, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director Randall Walden said in an exclusive interview. The second copy of the B-21, which will be used for structural testing, is now on the production…