The Air Force civil engineers that keep the water flowing—and treated—at Kirkuk AB, Iraq, and Forward Operating Base Warrior, are critical because unlike stateside where treated water may go into a stream or river to be reabsorbed into the environment, the water in Iraq goes directly back into the water table from whence it came. It is non-potable water—not used for drinking—but, officials say, the more than 100,000 gallons of waste water CE treats each day still must go through a 12-hour cleaning process.
Air Force Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost—a trailblazer and one of the first 10 women to reach a four-star rank across the U.S. military—retired and passed control of U.S. Transportation Command to Air Force Gen. Randall Reed on Oct. 4, finishing an eventful tenure at TRANSCOM.