Retired Brig. Gen. Thomas R. Mikolajcik, who last served as the Air Staff’s director of transportation and was a member of the C-X Task Force that led to development of the C-17, died April 17 at age 63 after a battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1969 and over his career flew the C-9, C-17, C-130, and C-141 airlifters. Among his assignments, he served in Air Staff and NATO positions, was project officer for a Congressionally directed mobility study, and commanded two airlift wings, one at Ramstein AB, Germany, and one at Charleston AFB, S.C., where he established the first C-17 squadron. (Also read JB Charleston report by Rose Alexander; WCSC-TV report)
President-elect Donald Trump has said he will nominate Pete Hegseth, a Fox News personality, as Secretary of Defense for Trump's second term. The choice rounds out most of the national security selections for the new administration.