Maj. Anthony Diaz, operations officer with the 802nd Contracting Squadron at Lackland AFB, Tex., on June 14 received a Bronze Star medal for his meritorious service in Iraq. During a 12-month deployment that concluded earlier this year, Diaz served in Baghdad as a contracting advisor to US Forces-Iraq’s border enforcement transition team. He was cited for exemplary leadership and business skills in ensuring the timely processing of foreign military sales programs valued in excess of $1.2 billion. He also contributed to the successful turnover of numerous completed construction projects and participated in numerous convoys throughout Baghdad as a vehicle and convoy commander, driver, and gunner. (Lackland report by Mike Joseph)
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.