: In its newly issued 2010 America’s Best Colleges list, Forbes magazine last week ranked the Air Force Academy the 11th best college in the nation. “I’m proud to see a respected publication such as Forbes recognize the integrity, service, and excellence that we have the privilege of seeing every day,” said Brig. Gen. Dana Born, USAFA’s faculty dean, in a release. More than 600 undergraduate programs were evaluated by Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, based in Washington, D.C. The rankings are based on a multitude of factors, including graduate surveys, graduates’ average salaries, student evaluations of classes, and student debt at graduation. Forbes ranked the academy No. 7 in 2009 and No. 16 in 2008. West Point came in tops among the service academies, ranking fourth on the list. Annapolis came in 29th. (Forbes rankings)
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.