The Air Force has awarded a Bronze Star medal to SSgt. Karen Wagner, a senior intelligence analyst with the 693rd Intelligence Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany, for her actions while deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. Wagner served as a weapons intelligence team investigator, collecting, assessing, and disseminating information on insurgent weapons capability. She worked on more than 300 combat missions that collected battlefield intelligence primarily to help the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division deal with improvised explosive devices. Col. Meg Czapiewski, 69erd Intelligence Group commander, said of Wagner, “Her willingness to go into harm’s way and put her life at risk to serve her country is the ultimate inspiration to all of us during these very challenging times.” Wagner said that it was “tremendously rewarding to do something that makes a difference for the ground troops.” (480th Intelligence Wing report by SSgt. Michael Edmond)
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.