Rachel S. Cohen
Rachel Cohen joined Air Force Magazine as a senior editor in January 2019. She covers science and technology programs, space, Congress, the nuclear enterprise, C4ISR, and more. The Michigan native graduated from American University and previously worked at Inside Defense, Inside Health Policy, the Frederick News-Post (Md.), the Washington Post, and others.
Recent stories by Rachel S. Cohen
Tanker Modernization
Discussion of future tankers comes as the Air Force continues downsizing two of its three aerial refueling fleets and bringing on the troubled KC-46 Pegasus, the U.S. military’s first 21st-century tanker program.
Pentagon Needs More Accountability to Speed Acquisition: Former Defense Officials
U.S. military leaders must embrace flexibility, train the next generation, and hold themselves accountable if the Pentagon hopes to deliver cutting-edge weapons and vehicles to the battlefield in a timely manner, three former defense officials said in a report released Sept. 25.
Senator to DOD: Redo Study on Suicide by Job Specialty
About two months after the Pentagon released a congressionally mandated study on military suicide rates broken down by career field, the senator who led the charge for the study is telling Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III that the released data falls short of what ...
Air Force Faces Hits to Readiness, New Programs Under Continuing Resolution
The House and Senate passed a continuing resolution Sept. 25 to keep the government funded through Dec. 20, and President Joe Biden has indicated he will sign the legislation. Under a CR, the Department of the Air Force said, space launch and testing modernization will ...
Senate Confirms Nordhaus as National Guard Boss; Air Guard Nominee Still Waiting
The Senate on Sept. 24 quietly approved Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus to lead the National Guard, filling a vacancy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff that has persisted for nearly two months. Still in limbo is Maj. Gen. Duke Pirak, the Air ...
Air Force to Revamp PME for Top Enlisted to Focus on China
A professional development course for the highest-ranking enlisted Airmen will go on hiatus for several months as the Air Force revamps its curriculum to reflect modern geopolitics, the service said in a recent release. Overhauling the Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course at Maxwell Air Force ...
What the Wars in Gaza and Ukraine Are Teaching the US About Logistics
Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel nearly one year ago caught the world by surprise—including Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, the U.S. military’s top logistics officer. But the Oct. 7 crisis, which spiraled into a war now on the cusp of its second year, illuminated fresh ...
Here’s How a Continuing Resolution Could Hurt the Air Force in 2025
The Air Force on Sept. 18 warned that a failure to pass a new budget for the federal government for part or all of fiscal 2025 could degrade military readiness and slow the arrival of critical equipment as Congress ticks toward a shutdown in less ...
Narcan Now Available at Exchanges on Base to Combat Opioid Overdoses
Troops and their families can now purchase Narcan from their local exchange as the military grapples with the effects of the national opioid epidemic.
Air Force Could Scrap KC-135 Replacement If It Can Speed Up Next-Gen Tanker
The Air Force’s top acquisition official said Sept. 16 that longstanding plans to replace the KC-135 Stratotanker refueling jet with a similar airframe hinge on the progress of the service’s search for a more futuristic tanker.
Airmen at Risk of Temporary Pay Delay When Reenlisting
Thousands of Airmen are ensnared in a bureaucratic backlog that's forcing staff to handle their reenlistments manually, in some cases delaying paychecks.
Senators Urge National Guard Chief Nominee to Stop Cuts at Bases
A bipartisan trio of senators urged the likely next National Guard boss on Sept. 12 to hold off on proposed staff cuts to Air National Guard bases in their states, arguing their missions should shield them from top-down attempts to downsize.
Air Force Academy Investigating Cadet’s Death on Campus
The U.S. Air Force Academy is investigating the death of a freshman cadet who was found unconscious in her Colorado Springs dormitory last week, the school said Sept. 5.
New Air Mobility Boss Promises to Continue Command’s Transformation
Gen. John D. Lamontagne took over Sept. 9 as the top officer at Air Mobility Command, promising to continue the organization’s sweeping preparations for the prospect of war in the Pacific that have picked up speed in recent years.
Building the New Space Coalition
Partnerships in space could build capabilities and save money for all in the coalition.