Air Combat Command officially announced on Nov. 21 that Minot AFB, N.D., is the Air Force's "preferred location" to house a fourth B-52 bomber squadron, under a plan the service began in spring 2008. First, though, USAF must complete the required environmental assessment. The North Dakota Congressional delegation broke the news a day early. In a Nov. 20 joint statement, Sen. Kent Conrad (D), Sen. Byron Dorgan (D), and Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D) said: "Our efforts to preserve Minot's bomber force have really paid off. And, while we knew this news was coming, this official announcement is still a sweet victory for the men and women of Minot Air Force Base. They are the best of the best." The ACC announcement said the environmental review process, which will address locating the additional squadron at either Minot or Barksdale AFB, La., would "begin in the near future." Minot currently has only one B-52 squadron, while Barksdale is home to two operational squadrons. ACC believes it could stand up the new squadron at Minot, assuming a favorable EA verdict, by late 2009 or early 2010.

The North Dakota Congressional delegation would like to see the Air Force place its new Global Strike Command, which is to oversee the service’s nuclear enterprise, at Minot Air Force Base. The lawmakers are banking on the fact that the...

The Air Force on Nov. 21 said it had signed a record of decision that will begin the beddown the Army's 7th Special Forces Group at Eglin AFB, Fla. However, the Air Force release stated that the ROD for the use of Eglin as the initial joint training site for the F-35 Lightning II will not be issued until next year. Both Eglin actions were part of the same environmental review process, but the F-35 issue has raised some concerns locally. The Northwest Florida Daily News reports that Air Force officials say the F-35 decision could take another 18 months, giving the service time to explore alternatives to offset an increase in noise that has concerned Valparaiso officials and residents. The Air Force's deputy assistant secretary for installations, Kathleen Ferguson, talked with Valparaiso and other community officials Friday, but, Valparaiso city attorney, Doug Wyckoff, told the newspaper, "It was a very fluffy discussion," meaning there was little substantive information. However, Valparaiso mayor Bruce Arnold noted that Ferguson said the service would include city officials in future meetings with Eglin officials on the F-35 training program beddown.

Speaking to reporters Nov. 20, John Young, Pentagon acquisition executive, essentially burst the bubble of those who thought that the need for a new Air Force combat search and rescue helicopter was universally supported within the walls of the Pentagon....

In addition to purging the last remnants of the so-called Druyun leadership culture that we detailed last week, Pentagon acquisition czar John Young says the Air Force’s purchasing community would benefit by rotating program mangers and program executive officers less...

According to Sen. Carl Levin, Democrat from Michigan, the wobbly state of three of the nation’s top automakers could spill over onto defense supply chains. Crain’s Detroit Business reports that Levin, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee and who...

The Bush Administration has nominated Maj. Gen. Loren Reno for a third star and to become the new deputy chief of staff for logistics, installations, and mission support on the Air Staff. He would replace Lt. Gen. Kevin Sullivan, who...

The Colorado Springs Gazette reports that the Air Force Academy is trying to turn the school’s athletic department into a nonprofit organization, sending Athletic Director Hans Mueh and Superintendent Lt. Gen. John Regni to talk last week with Congressional staffers...

An MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle sustained damage at 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 20 in southern Afghanistan, according to an Air Force release that day that offered no further specifics. And, on Nov. 21, another release stated that the landing...

Air Sorties in War on Terrorism, Southwest AsiaNov. 19-20, 2008 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 60 28 88 11,944 CAS/Armed Recon 89 133 222 33,379 Airlift 260 260 42,240 Air refueling 86 86 16,315 Total 656 103,878...