A1C Joshua Grier, 20, an airman deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, from Minot AFB, N.D., died on April 27, announced Minot officials on Tuesday. The cause of Grier’s death remains under investigation, states the base’s April 30 release. Grier was found unresponsive and then transferred to Guam Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the release. Grier was assigned to Minot’s 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as a B-52 assistant dedicated crew chief since September 2012. He deployed to Guam in March as part of the newest rotation of bombers to Andersen where the United States maintains a continuous bomber presence to promote stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
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.