MSgt. Kory Duarte, supply section chief for the 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Fla., on June 23 received a Bronze Star medal for his meritorious service during a year-long deployment to Afghanistan that concluded in May. During his tour, he mentored Afghan National Army soldiers. Duarte said he was “privileged” to receive the Bronze Star and thanked the airmen he worked with during his year-long deployment. Among his accomplishments Duarte executed 171 combat patrols covering more than 3,600 miles through austere and hostile terrain. (Tyndall report by SrA. Anthony J. Hyatt)
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.