John Stillion
Recent stories by John Stillion
In Wake of Venezuela, Nonkinetic Effects ‘at the Forefront of Everything We Do’: Official
While many details remain classified, top officials are starting to share more about how cyber and electronic warfare played a pivotal role in the raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this month.
Rotor Wash Knocked Down and Killed a Spectator at Kadena Event: Report
Poor event planning and staffing contributed to a fatal mishap last April at Kadena Air Base, Japan, when rotor wash from an HH-60W helicopter knocked over a Japanese teacher from a Department of Defense Education Activity school attending a public aerial demonstration, according to an Air Force investigation.
New Defense Strategy Prioritizes Western Hemisphere. Where Does that Leave the Pacific?
The Pentagon released its new National Defense Strategy late Jan. 23, emphasizing a new commitment to the Western Hemisphere. But while that focus garnered most of the headlines, the strategy’s subtle shifts on China raise questions about how the Trump administration aims to leverage U.S. ...
Contract to Expand B-21 Production Coming by March
Northrop Grumman expects to strike a deal with the Air Force to accelerate B-21 bomber production by the end of March, CEO Kathy Warden said Jan. 27.
AEW 2.0: Air Force Revises Deployment Model Again
The Air Force is revising once again its deployment model, scrapping its plans for "deployable combat wings" and revamping the Air Expeditionary Wing with a new AEW 2.0 model.
Congress Trims USAF’s Nuclear Spending in ’26 Spending Package
Congress moved one step closer to passing a defense budget and avoiding another government shutdown Jan. 22 as the House passed a mammoth appropriations package. The spending package includes cuts in funding for the B-21 Raider bomber and the LRSO missile.
New Deputy Directors Named for Golden Dome, Top Air Force Programs
The White House nominated Army Maj. Gen. Brian W. Gibson for promotion to three-star general as the No. 2 officer in charge of the Golden Dome missile defense shield and Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark B. Pye for a similar promotion as deputy chief of major ...
New ‘Bridge’ Air Force One from Qatar to Fly This Summer
The Air Force has a name and expected delivery date for the Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar to the United States for presidential airlift: the “VC-25 bridge aircraft” now has an anticipated delivery no later than summer 2026.
SDA Awards First Contract to Take Old Satellites out of Orbit
The Space Development Agency wants to launch hundreds of satellites into low-Earth orbit over the next few years—and thanks to a new contract, it now has a way to get rid of some when their service life is over.
Compromise Defense Appropriations Bill Would Add Funds for Fighters, E-7
Congress is looking to add $900 million to save the E-7 airborne early warning and control aircraft from cancelation and $500 million to address "emerging needs" for the F-47 Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter in the fiscal 2026 appropriations bill released Jan. 20.
Space Force Activates SOUTHCOM Component
The Space Force celebrated the activation of its component under U.S. Southern Command in a Jan. 21 ceremony—though it did reveal the organization became operational Dec. 1, 2025, presumably meaning it contributed to Operation Absolute Resolve, the mission to capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and take him ...
CYBERCOM Nominee Cautions Against Creating Cyber Force, Splitting Off NSA
The nominee to lead U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency touted the value of the organizations’ dual-hat command structure and urged caution toward creating a dedicated cyber military service in written testimony to Congress released Jan. 15.
Future SOUTHCOM Boss Sees Need for More Resources
The Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy released in November made it clear that the Western Hemisphere is the new priority theater for the Pentagon. To put that into action, U.S. Southern Command needs to grow, the Marine Corps general nominated to lead SOUTHCOM told lawmakers.
MH-139 Grey Wolf Helicopter Flies First Convoy Mission
A pair of MH-139A helicopters flew the type’s first ever intercontinental ballistic missile convoy at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., putting the new Grey Wolf into operational use.
Impurities in Metal Gear Led to CV-22 Mishap; Crew Actions Mitigated Damage
Impure metal used to make a gear in the proprotor gearbox of a CV-22 caused it to fail, leading to a mishap and emergency landing in November 2024 that resulted in nearly $2.8 million in damages and a brief operational pause for the entire Osprey fleet, according to a new Air Force report.

