Maj. Matthew Gamblin and MSgt. Edwin Lambert were recently honored with the 2005 Gen. Lew Allen Jr. Trophy for their efforts to keep aircraft flying and munitions ready for the deployed force. Gamblin achieved a 99 percent launch rate for more than 2,000 combat sorties during his tour as maintenance operations officer at Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait. Lambert led a team at Balad AB, Iraq, that launched 981 sorties for 2,629 flying hours and moved 410 Special Forces and more than 66,000 pounds of ammunition, resulting in the capture of four high value targets.
The Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital is giving a $150 million conditional loan to Rocket Lab meant to increase the launch rate for its new reusable Neutron rocket, which is slated for its first flight next year.