CMSAF Rodney McKinley on May 26 joined with seven retired Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force—plus the airman selected to succeed him—at Bolling AFB, D.C., for a dedication ceremony to honor the service’s highest enlisted position in the newly renamed Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Room in the Bolling Club. The event gave today’s airmen a chance to interact with the senior airmen of the past. “It’s always so good to see the young people who are here to serve our country,” said retired CMSAF James McCoy, sixth CMSAF from 1979-81. He added, “I continue to be amazed at the attitude of this new generation.” Retired CMSAF Sam Parish, eighth CMSAF from 1983-86, echoed his sentiments, saying that “the new people in the Air Force today are the best we’ve ever had.” After McKinley gave a speech, he introduced and welcomed CMSgt. James Roy, who will assume the CMSAF post on June 30, when McKinley plans to formally retire. (Bolling report by A1C Katherine Windish)
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.