US Special Operations Command inducted two former air commandos, retired CMSgt. Wayne Norrad and retired MSgt. Scott Fales, into its Hall of Honor at MacDill AFB, Fla. The induction took place during a dinner in Tampa on May 15. Norrad, 66, is a former command chief who is credited with being a developmental pioneer of combat control and pararescue, according to a May 17 release from Hurlburt Field, Fla., home of Air Force Special Operations Command. “It’s not just me getting this award,” said Norrad, who is now a program analyst and public affairs liaison with Hurlburt’s 24th Special Operations Wing. “It’s everyone who has trained with me, been to war with me, touched me,” he said. Fales, a former pararescueman, is a Silver Star Medal recipient. “From his time on the streets of Mogadishu in 1993 to merging combat development technologies in his current job, Mr. Fales epitomizes the can-do culture of AFSOC and represents the best of America,” said Col. Robert Armfield, 24th SOW commander. The hall of honor recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves through contributions to the special operations community. (Hurlburt report by Rachel Arroyo) (For more on Fales, read Heroes at Mogadishu from Air Force Magazine’s archives.)
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.