Defense Systems
Air Force secretary mulls space acquisitions nominees
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said candidate interviews are underway for the space acquisition system secretary position and he expects to make a recommendation to the defense secretary and White House soon.
Defense Systems
Zero trust, EMS top Air Force cyber priorities
Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh, the commander of the 16th Air Force, said implementing zero trust principles was "foundational" to improve data use and mitigate vulnerabilities from the defense industry supply chain.
Threats
Racial Division, Troops’ Role in Protests Has Hurt Minority Recruiting, Air Force Says
Black interest in military service plummeted after the George Floyd protests. Can the Pentagon undo the damage?
Ideas
AFA Conference Wire: New Space Force Uniforms, Hub-and-Spoke
News and notes from the 2021 Air Force Association's Air, Space & Cyber conference.
Policy
Trump’s Red, White & Blue Air Force One Paint Job is Not Final, General Says
The concept image is “just something that’s on a paper,” according to Air Force acquisition official.
Ideas
AFA Conference Wire: China Warnings and B-21 Numbers
News and notes from the 2021 Air Force Association's Air, Space & Cyber conference.
Threats
Air Force Secretary Warns of China’s Burgeoning Nuclear Arsenal, Reveals B-21 Detail
Frank Kendall also criticized Congress for not allowing the Air Force to retire old, unneeded warplanes and questioned the need for hypersonic weapons.
Science & Tech
US Air Force Developing Combat Tanker-Airlifter that Can Land on Water
In a conflict with China, aircraft will need flexibility in basing, and that means water takeoffs, landings.
Ideas
AFA Conference Wire: Force Mixes and COVID Masks
Vaccine cards and masks are back on the agenda for the 2021 Air Force Association.
Threats
The Marines Are Copying the Air Force's Efforts to Counter Online Disinformation
Meanwhile, the Army is trying to get inside perpetrators' OODA loops.
Threats
One in Three Women in Air Force, Space Force Have Experienced Sexual Harassment
Inspector general investigation into gender, race disparities also found minorities, women far less likely to hold leadership posts.
Science & Tech
USAF Wants Wearables to Spot Outbreaks Faster
Top officials are also looking into data integration and digital traceability tools to help keep staff healthy.
Science & Tech
US Air Force’s First Software Chief Steps Down
Nicolas Chaillan, who led a Pentagon-wide DevSecOps effort, said he was leaving in part because of a lack of support from senior leaders.
Threats
The Kabul Airlift in 5 Charts
The largest emergency airlift ever handled by the U.S. military started slowly and built to a torrent.
Threats
California, Louisiana Receive Outside Help to Support Natural Disaster Response
Both states have units deployed that would otherwise be helping in their efforts.
Ideas
Calculating the Costs of the Afghanistan War
The war in Afghanistan, like many other wars before it, began with optimistic assessments of a quick victory and the promise to rebuild at war’s end.
Defense Systems
Air Force chief software officer to resign
The Air Force's first chief software officer, Nicolas Chaillan, will step down from his role in October, citing lack of funding and being "unempowered to fix basic IT issues."
Threats