Air 
Force Secretary Michael Donley last week visited Andersen AFB, Guam, and Kadena AB, Japan, as part of his official tour of the Asia-Pacific region. “It’s been said before, but it’s still true,” Donley told airmen at Andersen on Nov. 20. “Our airmen, along with their families, joint colleagues, and other services, make countless sacrifices to serve our nation and to keep America secure,” he continued. Donley said Andersen would play an important role as the US military shifts focus to the Asia-Pacific region under the Obama Administration’s new defense strategic guidance. That shift “provides an opportunity for the Air Force to leverage the unique characteristics of airpower with range and speed,” and the service “will invest in modernizing capabilities to project power and operate effectively in this region,” he said. At Kadena on Nov. 21, Donley told airmen: “I often get asked, ‘What is the best part of being the Secretary of the Air Force?’ and it’s meeting our airmen.” He added, “It is an honor to serve with you in the world’s greatest Air Force.” (Includes Andersen report by 2nd Lt Sarah Bergstein and Kadena report by A1C Hailey Davis)
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.