Rescue crews recovered the body of a missing F-16 pilot in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a base release. Matthew J. LaCourse, 58, was an Air Force civilian pilot assigned to the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Fla. LaCourse, a 1978 Air Force Academy graduate, retired as a lieutenant colonel after more than 22 years of service. The base lost contact with his F-16 around 9 a.m. on Nov. 6 and search and rescue crews immediately were dispatched to the aircraft’s last known location. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family members of our fallen teammate as they struggle through this extremely difficult time,” states the release. The cause of the crash is not yet known, but an investigation is underway.
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.