David Roza
David Roza is a senior editor at Air & Space Forces Magazine. He covered local news in Downeast Maine and FDA policy in Washington D.C. before starting as an Air Force and Space Force reporter at Task & Purpose, where he became passionate about aircraft, spacecraft, and the people who operate them. Science fiction franchises such as Star Wars and Mobile Suit Gundam likely had something to do with it too. David can be reached at droza@afa.org or davidroza@protonmail.com.
Recent stories by David Roza
DOD to Track Suicide Deaths By Job Specialty Under New Law
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department ...
Airdrops, Port Dawgs, and More: 10 of Our Best Stories from 2024
We looked back on the past 12 months to find the stories that resonated the most with you, our audience, and these 10 topped the list. Maybe you missed one the first time around, or perhaps you’d like to revisit a favorite.
How Miss America 2024 Took the Air Force Somewhere New
When 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh became the first ever active service member crowned Miss America on Jan. 14, top Air Force officials recognized a rare opportunity to reach women and girls who otherwise might not consider military service as an option.
Could This Program at Cannon Be a Model for Health Care at Remote Air Force Bases?
An effort at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., to bring in medical specialists from afar seems to be paying off, with families driving less and requesting fewer travel vouchers to access care.
Air Force Expands Waivers For Asthma, Allergies, Hearing Loss to Bring in More Recruits
The Air Force recently expanded its waiver tolerances for asthma, food allergies, and hearing loss. The move should bring in between 600 and 1,000 more recruits a year, though they would be restricted from certain jobs or duty stations.
New Jersey F-16 Gets ‘Jersey Jerk’ Tail Flash Honoring WWII Ace
An F-16 assigned to the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 119th Fighter Squadron returned to its home base in Atlantic City on Dec. 5 with a splash of color dedicated to a World War II fighter ace.
KC-135 Crews Get Distinguished Flying Cross for Helping Fend Off Iranian Drones
Two dozen KC-135 crew members from multiple bases received the Distinguished Flying Cross for refueling the fighters that shot down 80 Iranian drones and missiles bound for Israel on April 13.
Air Force Infrastructure Is On Life Support. A New Plan Aims to Fix It
The Department of the Air Force’s installations czar revealed a plan Dec. 11 to fix Air Force and Space Force facilities that are increasingly in a state of decay, including airfields, water and electrical systems, munitions storage, and other critical base facilities.
New B-52 Engine Covers Keep Ice Away in Harsh Winters
New covers developed by Air Force Global Strike Command should save time and money by keeping B-52 bomber engines from icing even in Arctic environments.
Meet Two of the Air Force’s Newest Warrant Officers
The Air Force’s first new warrant officers in 66 years graduated Dec. 6 at a ceremony at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., the inaugural class of the new Warrant Officer Training School.
B-52s, F-35s Fly Live-Fire Arctic Exercise with Norway and UK
Air Force B-52 bombers dropped live ordnance on simulated enemy positions in Norway on Dec. 3 as part of a training exercise meant to hone data-sharing and targeting skills between NATO allies near the Arctic Circle.
A 296-Day Sprint: How the Air Force Brought Back Warrant Officers In Record Time
The first Air Force warrant officers in 66 years will join the force on Dec. 6 after an all-out sprint to stand up the program in just 296 days.
Air Force Moves to Streamline Officer Recruiting with New Accessions Center
The Air Force permanently stood up the new Air Force Accessions Center on Dec. 2, a move officials hope will improve coordination and consistency between the service’s various organs for bringing in new Airmen and Guardians, particularly officers.
What CMSAF Flosi Learned from 20+ Chiefs ‘Dying’ in an ACE Exercise
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Flosi learned the hard way that managing risk in a chaotic ACE environment is not always easy.
How the Air Force Can Evaluate Officers Better
A recent watchdog report found that the Air Force has one of the best officer performance evaluation systems among the services, but it falls short in two key areas.