The Air Force has awarded a Bronze Star Medal to SMSgt. Shawn Ricchuito, with the 886th Civil Engineer Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany, for his actions while deployed to support operations in Southwest Asia. Ricchuito served as chief of the 379th Expeditionary CE Squadron, part of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, which supports operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Ricchuito shepherded 240 personnel from 35 installations during four air and space expeditionary force rotations. (Ramstein photo release by SSgt. Jocelyn Rich)
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.