Michael Gill will assume the position of executive director of Air Force Materiel Command on June 28, replacing Steve Butler, who had served in the position since September 2008. As the command’s senior civilian, Gill will be a direct advisor to AFMC Commander Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger. “Helping to ensure we continue to provide vital support to our customers and warfighters will be at the forefront of all our efforts,” Gill said in a June 25 release. In his role, he also will assist in the development of the civilian workforce, which makes up more than 70 percent of the command. “Sequestration and furloughs will create a great deal of stress on our workforce and it will be important for us to help them weather the storm by being good wingmen,” he said. Gill previously served as the executive director of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. (AFMC report by Monica D. Morales) (See also AFMC’s Senior Civilian Stepping Down)
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.