Lt. Col. Lynden Skinner, deputy commander of the 341st Security Forces Group at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., has received a Bronze Star medal for his activities while deployed to Iraq. Skinner distinguished himself there as the joint defense operations center air force liaison officer to an Army artillery task force at Logistical Support Area Anaconda. In this role, he directed responses to more than 240 mortar and rocket attacks against the base, neutralizing more than 15 enemy mortar and rocket teams, while saving countless lives. His Army colleagues recommend him for the medal, which he received during an Oct. 24 ceremony at Malmstrom. “It’s a tremendous honor,” said Skinner, adding, “I didn’t expect this level of award and am very humbled to have been submitted for this.” (Malmstrom report by 1st Lt. Korry Leverett)
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.