The Air Force Personnel Center yesterday announced the names of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2008. They are: SMSgt. Donna Goodno, San Diego ANGS, Calif.; MSgt. Carla Curry, Randolph AFB, Tex.; MSgt. George Price Jr., Patrick AFB, Fla.; TSgt. James Caughron, McConnell AFB, Kan.; TSgt. Earl Covel Jr., Ft. Lewis, Wash.; TSgt. Jason Hughes, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; TSgt. Tammy Shaw, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; TSgt. James Weltin, Patrick AFB, Fla.; SSgt. Eric Eberhard, Hill AFB, Utah; SrA. Mary Bullock, Hurlburt Field, Fla.; SrA. Alicia Goetschel, RAF Mildenhall, Britain; and SrA. Shawn Ryan, Sheppard AFB, Tex. The Air Force Association will honor them at its Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington, D.C., in September.
Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held meetings with defense leaders from the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea during a trip to the Indo-Pacific this week.