The 
Air Force announced Friday afternoon that CMSgt. James Roy will be the new top enlisted airman, replacing CMSAF Rodney McKinley, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Schwartz called Roy, who currently serves as the command chief master sergeant for US Pacific Command, a “worthy successor” to McKinley, who Schwartz said has been a “tremendous leader and advocate” for enlisted airmen. Roy entered the Air Force in 1982 and served initially as a heavy equipment operator and subsequently in various supervisory positions in civil engineering units. He has served as command chief at wing, numbered air force, and joint levels. He will become the 16th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force during a June 30 ceremony.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.